Parents and guardians throughout the region are being urged to warn their youngsters about the dangers of playing around powerful electricity equipment.

The safety message comes from Electricity North West which operates the region’s power network.

Thousands of people are now enjoying the summer break and Electricity North West is calling on parents, guardians and children to take note of its overhead lines, electrical assets and yellow danger of death signs and stay clear of the power network.

Clive Wilkinson, Electricity North West’s operations director, said: “The summer break is here and it’s an excellent opportunity to spend time with people outdoors, enjoying the fresh air.

“For everybody’s safety, it’s vital people know what is around, particularly where they are playing. People must stay clear of the electricity network, it’s extremely powerful and can be very dangerous.

“The network includes overhead electricity lines, substations and many pylons and wooden poles. To help alert the public, we have bright yellow ‘Danger of death’ signs around the network.

“We want everybody to enjoy the great outdoors safely and we ask people to take note of their surrounding at all times.”

People are warned not to use items equipment such as kites near overhead lines as electricity can travel down the string of a kite. Anglers are asked to look out for overhead lines when casting and if people lose a ball or Frisbee in a substation, they are urged not to retrieve it.

“If any belongings land in the grounds of a substation or close to the network, we urge the public to stay away,” added Clive.

“All they need to do is call Electricity North West at no cost and our engineers will attend and retrieve any objects safely.

“I really cannot stress how powerful the electricity network is, it’s key people take note of the signage and our messages and stay away.”

Anybody who sees anything dangerous in or around the power network can call Electricity North West on 105.