Parents are being urged to make sure their children avoid half term horrors by keeping away from electricity substations and overhead lines when they are outside on the Shotley peninsula,

UK Power Networks, The UK's biggest electricity distributor, wants youngsters to have a good time but to be aware of the dangers of playing near high voltage electricity.

Nobody should ever climb over a substation fence to retrieve a ball, drone or remote controlled toy. Flying drones, remote controlled toys or using a kite can be hazardous if it comes into contact with an overhead line. If they get tangled with a line then drop the control or string immediately because electricity can jump. 

Never climb a tree that's near overhead lines as they carry high voltage electricity and branches can make contact with the cables.. 

If anyone loses a ball inside a substation fence, do not try and retrieve it.  Call UK Power Networks on 105 and an engineer will safely collect it for you. 

Debbie Chachulski, safety advisor said: "It's half term and children will want to be outside in the good weather. "We would always encourage parents to consider their children's safety and take the time to understand the risks.

"You should never enter a substation site to retrieve anything, because nothing is more costly than serious injury or even death. 

"Children may also be tempted to use a substation site as a hiding place or den when the fact is they are not a place for some half-term fun. They have a Danger of Death yellow warning sign on them for a good reason

"We also want people to be aware of their surroundings when kite and drone flying or tree climbing as there is also the risks posed by overhead power lines. Power lines can carry anything from 230 volts to 132,000 volts and even coming into contact with the lowest voltage cables can be fatal."