Red-faced police have taken back their warning that hand sanitiser can catch fire if left in hot cars

The post detailed exactly how the product could combust, stating: "The alcohol hand sanitiser can become heated, resulting in flammable vapours being released. These vapours can reach their flashpoint and then ignite in normal air conditions where there is a source of ignition, setting fire to flammable components within the vehicle."

Within a couple of hours, police put up a second post. This one state: "You may have seen we’ve taken down a post about hand sanitisers causing fires after being left in hot cars."

It added: "The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) have clarified that they have not been made aware of any confirmed cases of this happening in the UK and have provided reassurance that this product will not combust if left in a car, even on the hottest day. They advise keeping sanitiser bottles closed, away from naked flames and out of direct sunlight."