HELICOPTERS will be flying above North and East Yorkshire next week to check for damaged power cables.

Northern Powergrid will carry out airborne inspections of 3,000km of overhead lines and 15,000 pylons in Yorkshire, the north-east and north Lincolnshire over four weeks, starting Monday.

Landowners and farmers have been asked to be aware of the inspections because of their potential impact on livestock in fields crossed by overhead lines.

Gary Bartholomew, Northern Powergrid’s network inspections manager, said: “Our power lines are often located in isolated areas and take quite a battering during the winter months.

“Checking them from the air is the best and most efficient way of making sure they’re in good working order as the crew not only cover a lot of ground quickly, but can also fly really close to the cable.”

The firm said the helicopters would fly at low levels at speeds of about 30km per hour. There will be some noise, but this will be kept to a minimum and the pilots will avoid areas where sensitive livestock are grazing if possible.

For more information, phone the Northern Powergrid on 08450 707172.