Hadleigh householders are being urged to stay safe when putting up Christmas lights indoors and outside over the coming weeks.

As people get into the festive spirit, UK Power Networks which distributes electricity across London, the South East and East of England, is reminding people to put safety first. 

People should make sure they have bought safe sets of lights, checking their old ones, not overloading sockets and taking special care when putting the lights up.

If you are getting out your old lights it's important you check them first for damage. Never change or remove bulbs when they are switched on. Don't use lights that are damaged and make sure you dispose of them safely.

You could consider buying a new set with higher safety standards. With the cost of living crisis it's important you buy from a reputable source, so look for the BS Kitemark and avoid buying second hand. You can put yourself in danger if you buy cheaply.

Ros Forbes, a safety advisor at UK Power Networks, said: "For many families the start of December is the cue to reach for the Christmas decorations and put on a light show both inside and outside their homes.

"We encourage everybody doing that to follow our simple advice to stay safe as they get into the festive spirit and ensure the occasion is only remembered for the right reasons.

"If you are installing lights, be sure to take care and keep well away from any cables you may see coming into your property, our electricity lines are sometimes mistaken for phone lines. Anything that gets close to a live overhead electricity power line, can conduct electricity which can injure or kill, even at a domestic voltage.

"Extra care should be taken to avoid power lines that are a bit less obvious, for example if they come from another property to serve several homes and are clipped along the front of your property." 

Ten top tips for a safe switch on at home, are: 

• Look up and keep your ladder clear of power lines outside
• Position the ladder or steps on a stable surface
• Discard any old festive lights with frayed wires  
• Replace old lights with new low voltage lights 
• Check lighting used outdoors is designed for outdoor use
• Use a residual current device (RCD) which will interrupt the power if it detects a problem
• Keep water away from wiring when watering a real Christmas tree
• Avoid trailing wires and trip hazards by putting your tree near a power socket
• Avoid overloading plug sockets and always fully unwind extension leads
• Switch all Christmas lights off when leaving the house or going to bed  

When it comes to disposing of old lights, Phil Le Shirley, public safety advisor at RoSPA, said:

"Because Christmas lights contain so many different materials, we always recommend disposing of them in the normal waste bin and not the recycling bin.

"When it comes to batteries, most household recycling centres or supermarkets will have battery disposal points, so if you can, we'd always recommend disposing of batteries in this way rather than putting them in your household bin."