Rostock (dpa/mv) - Due to the sharp rise in gas, oil and electricity prices, there is a significantly increased demand for wood-burning stoves in the north-east. "Since the spring of this year, there has been an enormous number of inquiries from tenants and homeowners to the state's chimney sweeps," said the state guild master and head of the Mecklenburg-Western Pomeranian chimney sweeps guild, Jörg Kibellus, the German Press Agency (dpa). "Every colleague receives at least five to ten inquiries and related consultations on the planning of chimneys and single-room firing systems such as chimneys and stoves every day." Due to the high demand, the prices for chimneys and fireplaces are currently increasing. "At the moment, waiting times of several months are to be expected."