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Firefighters have blamed a rise in callouts involving adventurous lovers having bondage mishaps on blockbuster Fifty Shades of Grey.
The London Fire Brigade said the number of people who had to be released from handcuffs almost doubled in two years, from 15 in 2014-15 to 27 in 2015-16.
LFB said there were also nine callouts involving “men with rings stuck on their penises” since April last year.
The brigade issued the warning as the second Fifty Shades of Grey film hits cinemas.
They urged enthusiastic couples to be careful before getting themselves into “sticky situations” and in order to avoid an “embarrassing” visit.
In the last five years the capital’s fire crews have been called out to 102 incidents of people trapped in handcuffs and 23 instances of men with rings stuck on their penises, as well as other incidents involving men’s genitals.
According to the fire brigade each incident costs taxpayers at least £326, which amounts to a total of £830, 000 over the past three years.
London Fire Brigade Director of Operations Dave Brown said: "We're pleased that fewer people are getting themselves stuck in difficult situations and reducing call outs, however, it seems the Fifty Shades of Grey effect is still leading to some call embarrassing call outs.
"I'd like to remind everyone that 999 is an emergency number and should only be used as such. If there's a genuine emergency, fire crews will of course attend and will be on the scene to help within minutes."
