A number of ‘escape rooms’ in Hertfordshire were temporarily told to stop taking bookings amid safety fears, it has emerged.

The county’s Fire and Rescue Service conducted a series of unannounced  visits during 2018/19.

And, says a new report, they found “some significant failings” at several of these premises.

In three instances they found that the electromagnetic locks between the rooms were not connected to the fire alarm system.

As a result the businesses were told to take no further bookings until the issues had been resolved.

The incidents have been highlighted in the Fire and Rescue Authority’s ‘statement of assurance 2018/19’ to illustrate the service’s prevention work.

And it was reported to the county council’s audit committee on Friday, December 6.

“Those facilities where faults were found, were instructed to take no further bookings until all of the issues had been resolved,” says the report.

“As a result owners of these premises rectified the issues quickly and were allowed to continue to operate.”

Fire officers looked at the facilities following the deaths of fie teenage girls in an escape room facility in Poland.