VAUXHALL is recalling almost a quarter of a million Zafira B models so that preventative action can be carried out to protect the vehicles from the risk of fire.

In December last year Vauxhall wrote to all 234,938 owners of the cars to make them aware of an issue which could affect their vehicle.

The action follows scores of incidents in which some of the vehicles burst into flames.

The models affected were made between 2005 and 2014. Zafiras built before 2005 are not involved and neither is the Zafira Sport.

Investigations found evidence of improper repair of the blower motor resistor and its thermal fuse, which is designed to protect the blower motor system.

Such repairs, which may have been conducted without the owners' knowledge, can lead to overheating of the system's electrical components and the potential for a fire. Resistors should never be repaired, they should only be replaced.

Since then Vauxhall has been conducting a recall programme designed to return vehicles to their original condition. This has involved replacing the resistor in every vehicle inspected and the blower motor and the pollen filter in many thousands of vehicles.

The company also said that while the current action achieves the objective of returning vehicles to their original condition, it has decided to go further and improve the overall robustness of the system with a second recall to replace the current soldered fuse resistor with a wax fuse resistor so reducing the opportunity for manipulation.

Again, this work will be conducted free of charge.

Vauxhall will be writing to all customers to inform them of the second recall action and provide appropriate advice.

Owners of vehicles which have not yet had the initial recall completed should still bring their vehicles to their dealership to have them returned to their original condition.