A POWER company serving Worcestershire and the surrounding area will be flying high over the next few months to spot any potential problems with the electricity network.

Western Power Distribution will be carrying out helicopter patrols across the county as well as Birmingham and Tipton in November, December and January to spot any issues or hazards with power lines.

The patrols will also keep an eye out for trees growing into overhead power lines, which can cause problems in stormy weather.

The company’s chief pilot Robin Tutcher said: “Using a helicopter for patrols is the safest, fastest and most effective way to carry out checks on large sections of the network.

“Taking this bird’s eye view enables us to check large areas quickly.

“We’re able to spot potential hazards early so that our engineers can plan investment and maintenance work more effectively and do any necessary work before it causes problems for our customers.”

Exact flight times and locations will be based on local weather conditions.