Padiham metal thieves suffer burns (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Padiham metal thieves suffer burns

8:54am Tuesday 17th July 2012 in News By Peter Magill , Chief reporter

SUSPECTED metal thieves are believed to have suffered burns after breaking into an electricity sub-station.

Police are waiting to question two men after the incident sparked a power cut which affected more than 550 homes in the Padiham area.

The thieves are said to have suffered burns to their hands and faces after breaking into a sub-station in Cambridge Drive, Padiham, in the early hours of Saturday.

A Lancashire Police spokesman said: “The men were later taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital for treatment. The burns are not thought to be life-threatening.”

Police have confirmed that they are now waiting to question the two men involved, who are aged 29 and 41 and believed to be local.

Engineers from Electricity North West were first called to the power cut just before 6am and immediately alerted police.

Power was said to have been restored to most of the 550 affected properties by around 6.30am, with the remainder restored later that morning.

Homes in Cambridge Drive, Lancaster Drive, College Close, Dorset Avenue, King’s Drive and Rutland Place, among others, were affected.

An Electricity North West spokesman said: “The ‘Danger of Death’ signs are there for a reason. It is very serious. It is not worth the risk. It causes a lot of inconvenience to residents in the area who lose power. It is a really big issue and we are working with the police to stamp it out.”

Extra security measures have been installed at sub-stations in the East Lancashire area.