A firefighter who is down with the kids has penned a rap about the importance of smoke alarms.

Stephen-remell Coleman, 28, from Streatham, has produced a song called Got Mine, Got Yours?, which fire bosses hope will appeal to a young urban audience.

The track was professionally produced and a video was shot at the fire station and features some of Stephen's Red Watch colleagues.

Stephen, who performs as a rapper under the name Controversy in his spare time, approached his managers about using his musical talents to promote smoke alarms and the brigade's free home fire safety visits.

In the lyrics, the smoke alarm is referred to as a lucky charm.

"I've been writing poetry since the age of 11 and performing since the age of 14," said Stephen.

He said: "I thought of the Got Mine, Got Yours? project as a result of wanting to raise awareness of fire safety in low income, ethnic communities.

"All manner of views, opinions and ideas can be freely expressed using hip hop, and I guess this is why I want to use it in putting out this message."

There are thousands of accidental fires and around 50 fire deaths every year in London. Many could have been avoided if people were more aware of the risks.

London Fire Brigade is hoping that Got Mine, Got Yours? will raise awareness of simple measures that Londoners can take which could save their lives.

Val Shawcross, chairwoman of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority said: "We're grateful to Stephen-remell for coming up with this idea and it's great to be involved in a new way of promoting fire safety.

"Stephen-remell will have credibility with young people, who might not be interested in traditional publicity.

"We decided to try out the rap for the first time at the Notting Hill Carnival and it got a great response."

Got Mine, Got Yours? was produced with the help of Simple Simon and fingersinpies.com.

To watch the video, visit youtube.com/watch?v=wt6hNqz Oviw.

For more information about Stephen see myspace.com/controversyworld.

To arrange a free home fire safety, contact 08000 28 44 28.