A MAN is being treated for serious burns in Whiston Hospital after accidentally drilling through an electric cable carrying 6,600 volts.

The 50-year-old was carryng out work to replace a road sign near the Red Lion pub in Robins Lane, Sutton, when the accident occurred just after 10.35am on Monday, August 2.

Paramedics rushed him to Whiston Hospital where he was treated for 25 per cent burns to his face, head and arms.

The incident left more than 2,500 homes in the Sutton area temporarily without electricity until Manweb restored power at 11.45am.

St Helens Council's Health and Safety Initiative has now launched an investigation into the incident.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.