Sub-station vandals 'risk lives'

Vandals who broke into two sub-stations in Derbyshire were lucky to escape unhurt, energy officials have said.

Central Networks said the damage to the sub-stations in Long Eaton led to nearby homes losing power.

In the latest incident, on New Year's Day, intruders broke into the sub-station in the Manor House Road area and damaged equipment.

The firm is offering a reward of £1,000 for information leading to the conviction of those responsible.

'Sheer stupidity'

Last month thieves stole a quantity of copper wire from the sub-station in Grosvenor Avenue, Long Eaton.

Phil Wilson, customer operations manager for Central Networks said: "The sheer stupidity of vandalising or interfering with the power network should be glaringly obvious to everyone.

"We work very hard to keep people's lights on and their homes warm and incidents like this not only make that job harder but also more dangerous.

"Vandalising sub-stations is dangerous for those people stupid enough to do it but is also a hazard for our engineers and for passing members of the public unaware that anything has gone on."