PRANKSTERS in Darlington are putting people’s lives at risk, police say.

In the last month there have been at least half a dozen incidents in which residents’ outside electricity meter boxes have been turned off.

Insp Mick Button, of Darlington’s Neighbourhood Policing Team, believes that the incidents are meant as a prank but he warned that cutting off electricity supplies can have serious consequences – particularly for the elderly or infirm.

He added: “We have got CCTV footage of what appears to be kids doing it; they may think it’s a harmless prank but they need to know that it’s a dangerous thing to do and we are looking into it.”

Insp Button said the incidents have not been confined to any one area of the town and he asked anybody who knows who is responsible or has information that could identify the youths to contact police on 101.