A WEST Wiltshire company that designs ladders is urging householders to stay safe this Christmas while putting up their trees, lights and decorations.

Safety ladder expert Henchman, based at the Glove Factory in Holt, says Christmas is a time for celebration and festive fun but is also a peak time for ladder accidents.

Every year, hospital A& E departments across the country report a rise in the number of people brought in during December after falling from heights.

Many of the patients have toppled off insecure ladders whilst putting up outside lights and decorations or fallen indoors while installing trees, lights and decorations.

Henchman managing director Tom Kitching, who founded the company in 1994, said: “Nobody ever thinks it will happen to them.

“How often have we heard people saying, ‘it’s OK I’ve done this loads of times – I know what I am doing’ as they balance precariously up a ladder putting up outside Christmas lights?

“The sad fact is that it can, and does happen. Stretch out that little bit too far or lean the ladder against a tree or bush that suddenly gives way and you will fall, risking serious injury or even death. Following basic rules and investing in the right ladder for the job could save your life.”

Father and son team, Mike and Tom Kitching, initially developed the first Wheeled Henchman platform for Tom’s GCSE O level woodwork project, with Tom managing to scrape a C pass.

They had become interested in designing a safer model after Mike fell off a step ladder while hedge-cutting in the garden at home.

The luckily not too serious fall sparked the realisation that typical step ladders were never designed for garden lawns, flower beds or other uneven terrain.

Since 1994, the Henchman business has been the pioneer of safer hedge cutting platforms and garden ladders, launching its first model at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show some 20 years ago.

The company’s range of lightweight aluminium Henchman Tripod ladders and High Step safety platforms have been specially designed in the UK for safe working at height.

Mr Kitching said: “Our Platform Tripod Ladder is the latest success story on this journey.

“With ongoing input from designers and engineers, the company now presents a broad range of products designed to be really useful, long lasting and excellent value.

“They provide a stable footing on uneven ground for jobs ranging from domestic hedge trimming to a four-metre topiary sculpture.”

The company also produces a range of wheeled garden platforms, wheelbarrows and barrow trailers, compost tumblers, easy lift harnesses and other garden accessories.

Henchman used to be based in Hampshire but relocated to Holt around two years ago. It now employs more than eight people at its Glove Factory offices and warehouse.

Customers now include several Royal households, the NHS, the Royal Horticultural Society, National Trust, and hundreds of councils, schools, colleges, nationwide landscape gardeners as well as tens of thousands of householders.