Farmers, construction workers, children flying kites, wild birds such as swans, and many more have fallen victim to these deadly monstrosities.

The danger of electrocution is obvious, but there are also obscure dangers associated with overhead power lines.

A recent report drawn up for the Department of Health by 'stakeholders' including scientists and electricity company bosses, urges ministers to consider banning the building of homes and schools close to overhead high voltage power cables to reduce significantly exposure to electromagnetic fields from the electricity grid.

Some stakeholders support a California Department of Health paper which suggested electromagnetic fields are 'possibly carcinogenic' in terms of childhood leukaemia.

It also cited other health effects - adult leukaemia, brain tumours, miscarriages and motor neurone disease.

Gas, water and telephone lines are now installed in all new-build housing developments underground.

Technological advances over the last 20 years have seen the introduction of trenchless techniques. This has resulted in mains and services being connected without the cost and inconvenience of open track excavation. I would urge our newly installed Environment Minister to set up a working group to look at the negative impact power lines have on communities.

Pigeon racers and other interested parties should lobby their MLAs and the Environment Minister to ensure that NIE, or whoever runs the electricity network here in the future, does so in a way that does not have a negative impact on our health, safety or even our hobbies.

Lobbyist, Derriaghy