A playground beneath a 132,000-volt power line has been dismantled and an urgent investigation begun after reports of children being injured by electric shocks.

At least two youngsters were hurt in Greggs Wood Road in High Brooms, Tunbridge Wells, causing swings and a climbing frame to be swiftly removed.

Shaun Veness was walking his dog with three-year-old daughter Poppy when she received a shock on August 14.

He said: “I popped her on the swings, gave her a push and felt a bit of static.

“I pushed her again and she started crying saying it hurt.

“When I took her off I felt the chain, it wasn’t static, it was a running current.

“It felt like a cattle fence, my hair was on end all day. Poppy is okay and we’ve gone back since but it has fascinated me how this could happen.”

Mr Veness made a complaint and three pieces of equipment were removed from the play area the same day.

Before they were taken away, the swings were directly underneath a power line carrying up to 132,000 volts.

The mains in a typical household is around 240 volts.

However, it is usually the level of current which determines whether a jolt is dangerous to humans.

A spokesman from Electrical Safety First, a charity which works to prevent death and injuries caused by electrical accidents, said: “This is not simply a case of static but of a possible live current running through the chains of these children’s swings.

"We are pleased to see the developer has since removed the swings, which sit very close to power cables.”

UK Power Networks said it found no fault with the power lines or a substation on the edge of the play area.

The developers behind the estate, Town and Country Planning, confirmed the play area’s proximity to high-voltage equipment is forming part of its internal investigation into the incident.

A spokesman said: “As there had not been any reports of issues previously, it seems to be as a result of the unique weather conditions.

“We will work with UK Power Networks to redesign the equipment to mitigate against potential risk in the future.

"We are continuing to investigate the cause and are unable to speculate further until these investigations are complete.”

Normally air does not conduct electricity. However, if there is a big enough electrical charge in the atmosphere, it can create charged particles.

Mother-of-two Rachel Betts, who lives near the park, said: “It’s horrific, me and my husband couldn’t believe it.”