A MAN was airlifted to hospital after receiving a 20,000 volt electric shock when part of his cement wagon touched an overhead cable.

The accident happened in Front Street, Cockfield, near Bishop Auckland at 4pm today.

It is understood that a 25 foot pole on top of the vehicle came into contact with the cable, bringing it down.

The 25-year-old driver, from Houghton-le-Spring, was understood to have been able to climb from the vehicle.

He was taken by air ambulance to the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.

Although he was known to have suffered burns his injuries were not believed to be life threatening.

He was due to be transferred to a hospital in Newcastle tonight.

A Durham Police spokesman said: "It has caught a power cable and brought one of them down.

"The grass in the area was set on fire so the electricity supplier turned out.

"He is in hospital but his injuries are not believed life threatening and he was conscious at the time."

The Health and Safety Executive are expected to attend tomorrow.

A Durham Fire Service spokesman said: "The driver was clear when we arrived.

"We cordoned off the area until the electric company arrived to deal with the electricity supply.

"It was an area where they were carrying out some sort of drainage works."

A spokesperson for CE Electric UK - the company responsible for the region's electricity distribution - confirmed there was a serious incident and that they were working closely with the emergency services to investigate.

A Cockfield resident said: "The power came back on at about 6.30pm.

"Everyone in the village has been talking about it with the helicopter being there and the power being out.

"We are hoping the lad is alright, you can put up with the electric being out for a couple of hours, we just hope the lad is ok."