WITH the warm weather luring people outdoors, Southern Electric Power Distribution is reminding gardeners in Swindon to ‘think safety’ before they get their hands dirty.

It said many gardeners are unaware that their seemingly harmless pastime could be riskier than they think.

The latest annual figures show that nearly 500 people were admitted to hospital after accidents with powered lawnmowers and 3,415 were hurt using powered hand tools and household machinery.

Among the company’s top tips for keeping safe are: check electrical equipment carefully – if it’s damaged don’t use it; always use a residual circuit device , which cuts off the electricity supply if a fault is detected; never use electrical equipment in wet conditions; and check for overhead power cables before cutting trees or hedges.

For more safety information, log on to www.hse.gov.uk/electricity or www.ssepd.co.uk.