Police received calls from neighbours who reported hearing pops and seeing flashes at Hagg Hill, New Tupton, as the 11,000 volt power line caught fire.

As a result of the attack, 1,746 homes in the area were left without electricity, with all but 23 properties back on-line four hours later.
A spokesman for electricity supplier Central Networks, said: "We'd like to apologise to anyone affected.

"It's an insane thing to do to set fire to an electricity pole. Anything could have happened.

"If you are there and the line came down and hit you, you would be dead."

Police are carrying out a joint investigation with the fire service, but said they are treating the incident as suspicious.

Pylon

A police spokesman, said: "It looks like someone has set fire to the bottom of the pylon, causing damage.

"At the minute, we are treating it as suspicious."

He added that aerosol cans were found at the bottom of the pole and a Vauxhall Corsa was also spotted in the area, which police are keen to eliminate from enquiries.

• Anyone with information about the incident, at about 12.30am, should call police on 0845 123 3333.

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