MASTER Locksmiths Association (MLA), the leading trade association for the locksmithing profession, has issued professional guidance on what to do if you get locked out of your home.

Whether you’ve returned home and forgotten your keys or realised your mistake just as the door shuts behind you, accidental lockouts are more frequent than the general public may realise.

An article in “The Independent” stated that between 2010-2015, the London Fire Brigade firefighting service recorded spending more than £9.5 million of taxpayers’ money dealing with calls regarding accidental lockouts, with an average of 16 ‘locked out’ calls happening every day.

Dr Steffan George, Managing Director of the MLA, commented: “The most common thing that people do when they find themselves locked out is to panic, although this is a natural reaction, it is not necessary as there are simple steps to follow to ensure you regain access and to prevent it from happening again.

“If you do need to call a locksmith, we urge homeowners to contact a professional locksmith that is accredited by an organisation like the MLA. Not many people will already know a locksmith but this isn’t something you want to get wrong as a poorly trained locksmith can do more harm than good.

“All of our members are vetted, inspected and qualified via an exam based proof of competence – so you can trust them to do a good job and have peace of mind about letting them in to your home. Taking the correct steps when you find yourself in an unfortunate situation like this will not only save you time and energy, it could also save you a significant amount of money.”

For further advice, contact your local MLA-approved locksmith who can give you advice on bespoke security solutions for your property and help with installation. Many will also carry out an initial security assessment free-of-charge.

To find an approved company in your area visit the MLA website: www.locksmiths.co.uk .