A GAS company is investigating an accident in which one of its diggers and a trailer collided with a pole carrying power lines - disrupting electricity supplies to several homes.
The crash happened on Tuesday when a mini digger and trailer towed by a Transco van sheered free outside the Pack Horse pub, in Burnopfield, County Durham.
Police spokesman at the scene said: "It is very lucky there were no pedestrians using the footpath at the time and that no one was hurt.
"A Transco vehicle was travelling towards Sunniside on the A692 at about 8.30am when it would appear the tow bar sheered off.
"The mechanical digger and trailer detached and rolled over lodging between the pole and the wall.
"Staff from the Vehicles Inspectorate happened to be passing and they are investigating. The driver suffered mild shock."
A spokesman for power company NEDL said: "We were called out after one of our poles was clipped.
"Our engineers isolated the electricity - affecting eight properties - until the digger and trailer were removed at 11am."
A Transco spokesman said the van and trailer were taken to the firm's leasing group for examination.
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