MORE than 1,000 East Yorkshire homes saw their power hit after thieves damaged overhead cables.

Northern Powergrid said the problem with electricity supplies near Goole was one of a spate of thefts across Yorkshire this week, with Monk Fryston, near Selby, also affected.

About 13km of copper cable has been taken, sometimes leaving the ends of power lines carrying 11,000 volts hanging dangerously over roads and paths.

The company said thieves have struck 40 times in Yorkshire in the last few weeks and has appealed for anybody who has witnessed the thefts or seen suspicious activity to contact police.

Mick Hickling, of Northern Powergrid, said: “Thieves are showing complete disregard for people’s safety to steal cable with relatively little financial value. The cost of the repair is not our primary concern, it’s the significant risk to life which worries us most.”