08 February 2010 10:53
Central Networks issues urgent safety warning after chainsaw used to bring Warwickshire electricity pole down

Central Networks, the electricity distribution company for central England, has today issued an urgent safety warning after an electricity pole in Crick was cut down using a chainsaw.

The incident happened on Saturday at around 7.30pm when customers in the Rugby and Crick areas would have seen supplies lost for a few seconds.

When engineers investigated the cause of the incident, they discovered that a wooden electricity pole had been cut down using a chainsaw and the stay wires supporting the pole had been cut with a hacksaw.

Another pole had also been cut and the 33,000 volt wire was lying on the floor.

Phil Wilson, Customer Operations Manager for Central Networks, said: "This almost beggars belief. These people thought it was a good idea to bring down a live electricity pole that was carrying 33,000 volts.

"It's incredible that no-one was hurt and I'm sure that everyone who was affected - however momentarily - would be equally damning in their condemnation of whoever did this."

The police have been informed of the incident.

Ends

Notes to editors:

• Central Networks brings power to five million customers across central England through 133,000km of underground and overhead cables and via almost 94,000 substations;
• Central Networks covers an area from the Peak District in the north to parts of Bristol in the south, and from the Welsh Borders to the Lincolnshire Coast.

For further information contact:

Jonathan Smith on 024 7618 3676
A selection of Central Networks pictures is available free of charge to the media by registering at www.newscast.co.uk and looking under Distribution