MP Yasmin Qureshi has signed an open letter to the boss of Whirlpool UK expressing concern over the company's response to fires involving their washing machines.

So far 79 of its Hotpoint and Indesit devices have ignited.

It follows similar problems with the firms tumble driers.

The letter to Whirlpool UK's managing director James Goldsmith, signed by Bolton South-East's Ms Qureshi and more than 30 other MPs of all parties, questions the speed of the firm's response, notes that its website crashed within minutes of the recall of machines being announced and expresses fears the affected devices were being sold online.

READ MORE: More than half a million washing machines are a fire risk - is yours one of them? 

It says: "Your advice to affected customers not to use the machines until repaired or replaced is completely naive and unsustainable. As the machines are relatively new, surely customers should at least be able to access a swift replacement?"

Mr Goldsmith said the company had ' notified customers of the potential safety risk immediately', adding: "Whirlpool is working at full speed to ensure the necessary recall infrastructure is in place."