12,000 are hit by blackout

Thousands of homes and businesses in Telford were left without electricity after a power cut in the town this afternoon.

It affected nearly 12,000 Central Network customers in the Ketley area shortly before 1.30pm.

Traffic lights at the junction of Station Road and Waterloo Road were knocked out and properties left without power for several minutes.

The Shropshire Star in Waterloo Road was among those affected, with the presses momentarily halted, although printing was quickly resumed.

Power also went at the nearby Elephant and Castle pub and Ketley Fish Bar.

Fish bar owner Steve Loizou said the business lost power for a couple of minutes but no customers were inside at the time and it had not affected their work.

Central Networks is investigating the cause of the power cut.

Spokeswoman Jane Branscombe said today: “We do not have any information on what caused the power cut. We are investigating it.

“It was pretty widespread, just shy of 12,000 customers were involved.

“People went off at 1.21pm and everybody was back on at 1.28pm.

“We dealt with the immediate situation and we are just investigating the cause now. We have not had any reports of any third party damage where somebody has cut into a cable.”