THE ESB HAS urged the public not to hang Christmas lights from electricity poles.

In a safety message for the festive season, people are urged to never take risks when it comes to electricity.

The public is told to never use ESB Networks poles to hang outdoor Christmas lights, as the electricity wires overhead are live and extremely dangerous.

A safe distance should be kept at all times because electricity is very powerful and can jump gaps.

Storms and strong winds can cause damage to electricity wires and poles, bringing wires to the ground. The ESB advises the public to be alert and keep a good distance.

Fallen electricity wires are live and therefore dangerous to approach.

Any such damage should be reported immediately to ESB Networks by contacting the emergency phone number 1800 372 999. It operates 24 hours per day, seven days a week.

The ESB has also issued safety tips for inside the home this Christmas.

• For decorations, always check for frayed wires, loose connections, damaged or cracked plugs, or any signs of discolouration. If there is any sign of these, disconnect immediately and replace. It is always safer to disconnect remotely at the distribution board.
• Reduce the chances of causing a fire and keep decorations and combustible materials well away from light fittings and other sources of heat such as heaters, fireplaces and candles. 
• Switch off all electrical appliances, including Christmas lights and phone chargers, last thing at night and before leaving the house.
• Always unwind extension leads completely to avoid overheating and don’t overload sockets with adaptors or extension blocks.
• Test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to ensure they are working.