THE company responsible for the electricity supply in the two counties is training employees in personal safety following a spate of close calls from disgruntled customers.

Aquila Networks is running two training sessions during National Personal Safety Week, which runs this week, from Monday, October 14 to Friday, October 18.

Most at risk are employees who are first to respond to a power cut. According to the company, it is not uncommon for them to be confronted by angry people, frustrated by the lack of electricity.

Others at risk include employees investigating the fraudulent use of meters.

"Most of our customers are reasonable and understand that we are just doing our job and are trying to get them reconnected as soon as we can," said Caroline Boots, spokeswoman for Aquila Networks.

"There are a few, however, who take out their frustrations on our employees.

"We have had cases of verbal abuse and stones being thrown at our engineers working at sub-stations but thankfully, so far, nobody has been hurt.

"We want our staff to feel able to cope with these situations and to defuse potential aggression before it escalates to actual bodily harm."

The company is running the courses, at its Tipton offices, on Tuesday, October 15 and Wednesday, October 16.

National Personal Safety Week is an annual event, established by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust five years ago.