HUNDREDS of homes and some businesses were left without electricity for up to two hours yesterday, due to a power cut in Huncoat.

Electricity went off from 11.20am until around 1pm. Around 1,600 premises were cut off, after a digger working on land being prepared for new homes on Huncoat's old brick yard severed an underground electric cable.

The problem seemed to affect shops on Station Road while firms elsewhere seemed to escape.

United Utilities worked to restore power through the morning and a spokesperson for the company said: "We apologise for any inconvenience caused. The exact cause will be investigated."

Station Road fish-and-chip shop owner Gary Mitchell estimated he lost up to £800 because of the power cut. He said: "The power went off about 11.30, so I had to stop frying.

"I had orders from eight factories but had to cancel them. I reckon I'm £800 out-of-pocket."

At Huncoat Primary School, co-ordinator Lynn White said: "All the lights went off. We served the children's lunches early and managed to cope."