News Detail

Vandals in Gateshead put lives at risk when they started a fire by a wooden electricity pole, electricity bosses have warned.

The vandals torched a pile of tyres at the base of an electricity pole by railway track near Wardley Lane, Gateshead.  The pole, which was carrying high voltage power lines, was so badly burnt that engineers needed to replace it.

The company responsible for electricity distribution in Yorkshire – CE Electric UK - has stepped in to condemn the vandals’ actions and warned that they had put their own lives – and those of the public – in grave danger.

Head of safety for the company, Paul Norton, said: “Fortunately, on this occasion, nobody was hurt but the consequences of this act of utter stupidity could have been a lot more severe – 11,000 volts of electricity run through these power lines.

“If the line had broken because of the fire, there is a very serious danger that a passerby could have electrocuted or seriously burned.

“The danger of death signs found on wooden poles, pylons and electricity substations really do mean what they say.”

Anyone who knows the identity of the vandals is asked to contact Newcastle British Transport Police on 0191 232 1253.