Young vandals put their lives at risk when they threw an iron bar at overhead power cables in the pouring rain, it was claimed today.
Residents in Great Wakering were left without power for more than an hour after a transformer attached to a telegraph pole was forced to shut down.
Brian Hefde, of High Street, claimed the youths were "playing with their lives" and urged them take heed of his warning.
Warning - Roy Pearson from Essex County Council and Brian Hefde stand close to where youngsters hurled an iron bar at power cables Picture: ELISE GOW
Mr Hefde, who lives near to the damaged telegraph pole in Common Road, said: "How stupid can you get? Not only are these irresponsible people damaging property and causing an inconvenience but they are putting their lives at risks.
"They could have been fried alive. If you throw iron bars at electrical objects in the rain then you are asking for trouble."
Employees from electricity company 24seven worked through Monday evening to repair the damage to the 2ft transformer which was attached about 20 feet up the wooden telegraph pole.
A spokeswoman for 24seven said: "Children should be warned against the dangers of tampering with anything electrical."
Published Thursday August 22, 2002
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