Doncaster Belles took time out from their busy training schedule to back the fire service’s smoke alarm drive.

The footballers, who live in South Yorkshire, have signed-up to a brand new smoke alarm testing reminder service.

The free ‘Press the Button’ service gives residents weekly or monthly online reminders to test their smoke alarms, after fresh figures revealed thousands of people in South Yorkshire fail to regularly check their smoke alarms.

Firefighters have been to dozens of house fires in the last three years where the alarm battery was either missing or flat, putting the safety of the residents at risk.

Only smoke alarms fitted with working batteries give you the vital extra minutes needed to escape a fire in your home, so fire chiefs hope hundreds of people will sign-up to the new service.

Leandra Little, team captain of Doncaster Belles said: “Don’t under estimate the importance of a working smoke alarm, they really are life saving. It’s quick and easy to sign up at www.pressthebutton.co.uk – we’ve all done it.”

Head of Community safety, Trevor Bernard said: “It’s absolutely fantastic to see a local football team get behind such an important campaign. Only working smoke alarms save lives. We know how easy it is to forget to test your batteries, but by signing up to this free service we promise to give you a regular, gentle reminder which may one day save your life.”

Smoke alarms should be tested regularly, ideally once a week. To sign-up to the reminder service, visit www.pressthebutton.co.uk