01 October 2002 00:00 EAST MIDLANDS ELECTRICITY LAUNCH HELICOPTER PATROLS IN NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

East Midlands Electricity will be making some noise in Northamptonshire on Friday when it carries out its annual chopper checks in the county.

The company has chartered a helicopter to check more than 170km of towers, poles and overhead lines in the county on October 11. The chopper checks will help ensure that the network is in full working order, while also saving time and money.

Phil Nicholson, East Midlands Electricity's Asset Investment Delivery Manager (East) said: "This is the quickest and most effective way of carrying out this very necessary work.

"These patrols are all about preventing problems. We'll be looking for things such as damage caused by weather - or trees close to lines - which, if not tended to, could affect the reliability of customer supplies."

But network issues are not the only problems that the helicopter crew can spot. In previous years the crew have spotted livestock in danger, reporting back to farmers who were then able to take steps to protect animals.

The patrols will see the inspection of the network in Kibworth, Market Harborough, Bruntingthorpe, Lutterworth, Sapcote, Hinckley, Barwell, West Hadden, Daventry, Weedon, Woodford Halse, Thenford, Brackley, Towcester, Buckingham, Milton

PDG Helicopters is conducting the patrols on behalf of East Midlands Electricity. Its maroon helicopter will carry East Midlands Electricity's logo.

If farmers, or the general public, require additional information, they should contact East Midlands Electricity on 01332 393940.