Most of us take for granted the delivery of any of the utilities that we enjoy and take for granted in our modern world.

At the later stages of 2016 we just expect to turn on the tap, and enjoy clean fresh water to come streaming out of the taps, the same goes for our gas supply.

But maybe the supply of electricity perhaps only comes into focus when we suffer a so called "power cut." It seems like an eternity if we lose power for less than an hour; no watching the television or making a cup of tea by boiling the electric kettle, and maybe trying to read by candle light?

So let's take a look at some overhead cable maintenance taking place to the power cables that run across the Nene valley between Irthlingborough and Wellingborough. In this case the work went on in Ditchford Road, near to what I still call "Chettles", this includes Hornigold transport etc., at Ditchford Mill.

The power comes from the power generating station via high voltage lines that are carrying the supply at up to 200,000 volts. These deliver to sub-stations, and it is transformed down to the domestic level of 240 volts in readiness to reach our homes. Or, of course, the industrial requirement of 440 volts, which is known as 3-phase supply.

We see the precarious work of the crews working at the top of the pylons; the machinery to pull up the heavy cables from drums are in the field at the base, and either side of Ditchford Lane we can see the trestles made out of scaffolding that support a cargo net. This prevents the cables from causing traffic problems below.

Workmen can be seen erecting the netting etc. in the autumn sunshine, on the Irthlingborough side of Ditchford Lane, the net is then linked to the similar one on the Wellingborough side of the road.

So the next time we switch on any of our modern day devices, spare a thought for the lads who do this demanding work for our benefit right across the year, and in all weather conditions too.

Equipment at the ready	Starting the work
The work area	Into the distance
Net Support	Working at the top!