Scottish Hydro-Electric has issued an urgent safety warning reminding the public not to approach or interfere with overhead electricity lines.

The warning comes after the discovery by an engineer of a bird box attached to a pole carrying 11,000-volt conductors.

Scottish Hydro-Electric safety manager Calum Wilson said it was a miracle the person responsible had survived.

He said, “Our poles carry electricity conductors at voltages of between 230 volts and 33,000 volts. Even at the lowest voltages this can seriously injure or kill anyone coming into contact with them.

“What some people may not know is that you don’t even have to touch the wires. Just getting close can result in the electricity jumping the gap, causing injury or death.”

Someone had mounted a bird box within a metre of the conductors.

“I’d imagine their head would have been even closer to the wires carrying 11,000 volts,” Mr Wilson said.

“It’s a miracle they survived. Unfortunately this person not only put themselves at risk, but inadvertently may have tempted others to climb the pole to look at the bird box.”

Scottish Hydro-Electric says nothing should be attached to its poles—not even posters, which could obscure safety notices or encourage others.