Power cables can kill - youngsters warned to stay away

Northern Powergrid, the electricity distributor for Yorkshire, wants young people to be aware of the dangers of electricity as the summer months approach.

Paul Norton, head of safety at Northern Powergrid, said: “We all remember the excitement of the longer, milder nights, but it’s vital that youngsters realise that interfering, accidentally or otherwise, with any part of the electricity network can prove fatal.

“Every year, people die or suffer serious burns by touching cables, equipment or kites entangled in power lines that they didn’t realise were live. “We’ve had instances where youngsters themselves have phoned into our contact centre saying they’ve accidentally kicked their football into a substation or a kite which has been let go of, has become entangled in power lines and asking us to send an engineer to retrieve it. This is absolutely the right thing to do.”

Anyone with safety concerns should call the firm’s emergency number 0800 375675. Or visit http://www.northernpowergrid.com/page/safety/index.cfm for advice on staying safe around electricity.