With summer on its way some people may be planning their holidays and considering a camping holiday in the UK.

Electricity network operator, Northern Powergrid, is keen to ensure that both first-time and experienced campers are reminded of the importance of always selecting a safe place to camp and staying away from overhead power lines and electrical network equipment.

To ensure safe and happy camping over the Bank Holiday and coming summer months, Northern Powergrid is urging people to take a moment to remember five key steps before pitching a tent.

• Be vigilant: look out for overhead power line warning notices and signs prohibiting camping in certain areas.
• Look up, it’s live: never pitch your tent underneath an overhead power line.
• If you are near a power line always leave a gap of at least six metres between power lines and your tent’s highest point as electricity can jump gaps.
• If moving tent poles always remember to carry them horizontally so they are parallel to the ground.
• Never fly kites, drones or model aircraft close to power lines.

Gareth Pearson, Northern Powergrid’s Head of Health, Safety and Training, said: “Camping remains a popular holiday choice for many people. Whether you’re experienced or not, it’s vital you know and remind yourself how to camp safely – especially if you’re not using one of the thousands of UK camp sites across the UK. 

“We want to ensure that people in the communities we serve across the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire know how to keep themselves and other campers in their party safe at all times so they get to enjoy the Great British outdoors.”