The crane jib was left in the raised position and when he drove off from the depot it came into contact with the live power line dragging it down to the ground.

Bedlington Magistrates’ Court heard that an alarm on the crane, which would sound when the jib was raised, had been disabled.

HSE told the court the driver had never used the Stakeford Depot, in East View, Choppington, before and as there were only small indistinct warning signs regarding the existence of an overhead power line, he was not aware the line spanned that section of the site.

Inspectors found, other than two small warning signs, no safety precautions were in place in the area around the overhead line.

Speaking after the hearing HSE Inspector Sally Brecken said: “If the alarm on the crane had been functioning the driver would have been aware the crane was still raised before driving off and if suitable control measures around the overhead power line had been in place, the driver would have known about it.”

Northumberland County Council was fined £13,400 and was also ordered to pay £8,364.50 costs.