FURIOUS Tockholes residents have been told they will loose their electricity for more than seven hours - just weeks after assurances any problems had been sorted.

Villagers recently hit out at United Utilities after claims they have had 18 power cuts since this year.

A spokesman for the power firm said there had been intermittent faults on the line and that replacing insulators had solved the problem.

But residents were stunned to receive letters saying their supply would be turned off tomorrow, between 9am and 4.30pm.

Adrian Rigby, of Shirley Gardens, said: "We thought we had been doing quite well since it was brought to the attention of United Utilities but then I received the letter.

"At least this time we've been given some notice, although it is still inconvenient. Maybe this is going to be for maintenance work to try to solve the power cuts. Hopefully this will be an end to the problem but I won't be holding my breath."

Donna and Dennis Riding, who live in a farm off Tockholes Road, said: "It's inconvenient in every way possible. We are in and out of the house most of the day and we end up with no heating and are not able to cook.

"Fortunately we are not milking at the moment so that's not being disrupted but we're left with no lights, which makes things hard work especially now it's going darker quicker.

"We have to rush around and get things done before it goes dark. Sometimes it's off twice a week. Hopefully tomorrow will be the last time."

A spokesperson for United Utilities said the two problems were unrelated and that the power cuts were due to tree-felling by the firm.

The spokesman added: "We are sorry if any of our customers in Tockholes are inconvenienced by the planned turning off of supplies on Tuesday.

"These improvements to our network must take place to secure supplies to the area and we have given as much notice as possible of the planned switch-off."