A FARMER was reported to have been electrocuted today after he was struck by a power cable on the B1456 road to Shotley.The East Anglian air ambulance was despatched to the scene shortly after 9.30am

A FARM worker was taken to hospital with burns today after being electrocuted when he was struck by a power cable at Shotley.

The East Anglian air ambulance was despatched to Pear Tree Farm next to the B1456 shortly before 9.30am.

The crew were told the power cable came down after it had been struck by a lorry.

A spokesman for Suffolk police said the worker was injured when a curtain-sided articulated lorry hit an overhead power line and the cable came down.

The spokesman said the full extent of the man's injuries were unknown, however it was reported that he had sustained burns to his back and head.

After being given first aid at the scene, he was taken to Ipswich Hospital for further treatment.

The flailing electricity cables also set some straw bales alight and firefighters were sent to put the blazes out.

Aside from police, paramedics and firefighters, staff at power company EDF Energy were called to ensure the electricity was switched off.

The Health and Safety Executive have been informed and an investigation is under way to determine exactly how the incident occurred.

EDF Energy said nearly 500 people lost power for 50 minutes following the accident.

James Barber, a spokesman for the company, said: “At about 9.20am today, 492 customers in the Shotley area experienced a power failure following an accident involving a lorry that brought down some overhead power lines and snapped a wooden pole supporting them.

“EDF Energy Networks engineers are on site making the area safe and carrying out repairs. They restored supplies, by using other circuits, to 412 customers at about 10.30am.

“The engineers continue to work on site and to restore power to the remaining 80 customers as soon as possible.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this incident.”