Tough new rules aim to make electrical goods last longer

Government to force firms to make spare parts available and create products that are cheaper to run

Tougher rules are being introduced to make appliances such as fridges, washing machines and TVs cheaper to run and last longer, the government has said.

New legislation aims to tackle premature obsolescence" in electrical goods - short lifespans built into appliances by manufacturers so that customers have to buy new ones sooner - and make them more energy efficient.