An investigation has found that counterfeits are being sold by popular online retailers after an Elstree man was taken to hospital after a laptop adaptor caught fire.

Ewan Forrester, 26, from High Street, Elstree, bought a brand new HP laptop and adaptor from what he thought was a reputable online store.

Mr Forrester had been using his laptop for a while when he left it on his bed for no more than 15 minutes and when he returned his duvet and mattress were on fire.

He said: “The laptop had overheated, causing a small fire and flames were jumping from the bed.

“I tried to smother them, burning my hand on the hot, sticky plastic of the laptop in the process, and later had to go to hospital for treatment.

“The emergency services later told me the adaptor I was using was counterfeit and the situation could have been a lot worse if I hadn’t come back when I did.”

Safety charity, Electrical Safety First, found that last year more than one million people had bought counterfeit items.

The charity is warning bargain hunters to shop smart in the US-inspired Black Friday on November 27 as counterfeit electrics have grown by 12 per cent in the past year.