Abstract: A heating element for a liquid heating vessel, comprises a metal substrate, an insulating layer provided over the substrate, and an electrically conductive heating track provided over the insulating layer. The heating track comprises a path extending between two contact pads, the heating track defining regions of relatively high density of track portions and regions of relatively low density of track portions. The contact pads are located in regions of relatively low density, and the layout of the heating track is designed such that in the event of thermal overheating of the element, the heating track ruptures at one of a predetermined set of locations in high density regions of the heating track. The heating track itself thereby functions as a thermal fuse.