Electricity North West issues powerful summer safety message

Vincent Cranny says: "Stay away from electricity substations and overhead power lines"

With thousands of children across the North West breaking up for the summer Electricity North West is warning youngsters to stay safe over the next six weeks by staying away from electricity.

The power company, which operates the region’s electricity network, is urging parents, grandparents and guardians to remind children to heed the warning signs and stay away from electricity substations and overhead power lines.

Vincent Cranny, head of health, safety and environment for Electricity North West, said: “The danger of death sign is on all our substations and overhead lines for a reason.

“As it’s the summer holidays families and youngsters will be outside enjoying the weather, but it’s vital that they understand that interfering with the electricity network can prove fatal.

“The electricity equipment is designed and installed to the highest standards and it is safe if left alone. So we’re reminding everyone to stay alive by staying away.”

Families are warned to not play with kites near overhead lines as electricity can travel down the string of a kite and also anglers are urged to think before they cast and look for any potential dangers overhead.

More than 8,000 young people across the North West learnt about the dangers of electricity through Electricity North West’s Bright Sparks sessions over the last year.