NATIONAL Grid is urging Somerset farmers to take care following an incident which cut off power to more than 6,000 Wellington homes.

For Farm Safety Week, from July 21 to 25, National Grid Electricity Distribution is encouraging farmers across Somerset to check their surroundings and stay alert when working near overhead power lines.

The reminder comes as part of a wider effort to reduce the number of incidents involving farm machinery and power lines. It’s estimated that at least one such incident is reported every day across the UK.

On Friday, June 20, a total of 6,872 properties lost power in and around Wellington due to farming equipment coming into contact with an overhead line in a field. At the time, this was the second outage to affect the town in the space of two weeks.

Christopher Cleveland, head of safety at National Grid Electricity Distribution, said: “We know the importance of farming to the UK, how hard farmers work, and how much they rely on their equipment to get the job done. But we also know how dangerous it can be when machinery gets too close to live power lines.

“That’s why we’re urging everyone in the farming community to take a moment to ‘look out and look up’ before starting work. A few seconds of awareness can save lives.

“We’re committed to supporting farmers in Somerset and beyond with the knowledge and tools they need to stay safe.”

A spokesperson added: “Incidents involving overhead power lines can result in serious injury or, in rare cases, be fatal. They can also cause significant disruption to local electricity supplies, affecting homes, businesses and essential services.

“With agricultural equipment continuing to grow in size and reach, the space between machinery and power lines is narrowing. Taking a few seconds to assess the area before beginning a task can help avoid disruption and keep everyone safe.”