17 March 2010 15:57 Central Networks issues safety warning after flaming cable highlights hacksaw attack in Dudley

Central Networks, the electricity distribution company for central England, has issued a safety warning after an underground cable was attacked with a hacksaw last week.

The hacksaw was found lodged in a high voltage cable in Pear Tree Lane, where engineers were called out to after flames where spotted coming from the site. The attack caused almost 1,500 customers to lose power for nearly two hours while engineers worked quickly to restore supplies.

Phil Wilson, Customer Operations Manager for Central Networks, said: "The sheer stupidity of cutting through live power cables should be glaringly obvious to everyone. Whoever did this could quite easily have died and I can only imagine what our customers thought when they spotted flames pouring out of the cable.

"I can't stress highly enough that it's just not worth it."

The incident has been referred to police. Anyone who has information about vandalism to or theft of Central Networks property is encouraged to call CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.

Ends

Notes to editors:

• Central Networks, provides a reliable supply to 9.5 million people in central England through 133,000km of underground and overhead cables - enough to go round the Earth more than three times - 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:

Alisha Allen on 02476 192 063