The US Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Institute of Standards and Technology have warned that Christmas trees can present a fire hazard, and urged people to take necessary precautions.

The agencies have produced a video showing how quickly dry Christmas trees can catch fire.

The clip shows two trees separated by a fire-wall, one watered, the other not.

Safety experts set fire to the base of both trees, to simulate the potential spark from a candle.

While one of the trees does not ignite, the dry tree quickly becomes engulfed in flames.

According to US data, there are about 200 decorating-related injuries each day during the holiday season.

The CPSC recommends that people "check for tree freshness, look for fire-resistant artificial trees and take extra precautions with candles".