About 1,500 properties were plunged into darkness by a massive power cut across Telford. Firms on an industrial estate were today forced to use generators as the black-out continued.

Homes and businesses in Horsehay, Coalbrookdale, Dawley and Ironbridge were left in darkness last night.

And firefighters were called out to alarms in the area after the power cut, which happened at 9.25pm, activated them. Crews said they included Somerfield in Stirchley, at about 10pm.

A spokesman at Telford Central Fire Station said there were no incidents, only false alarms caused by the power surge.

Power firms said the cut was caused by a fault at a nearby sub-station, which was being tackled.

But seven properties on Doseley Industrial Estate were without power today.

A spokesman for Telford Commercial Vehicles, on the estate, said he lived on site and lost power to his home last night, but it was back on this morning.

Staff at the Forrester Arms in Horsehay put out candles. Manager Heather Page said emergency lighting kicked in, but the beer pumps were affected.

Jonathan Smith, spokesman for electricity distribution company Central Networks, said: “It started at 9.25pm and initially affec- ted 1,500 customers in Coalbrookdale, Horsehay, Dawley and areas of Ironbridge.

“The first people had their power back on within seven minutes and the majority of people were back on by 10.30pm. Everybody but seven people on Doseley Industrial Estate was back on by 1.25am today.

“The seven businesses are still off, but we have got a generator now and connect- ed that about 8am today.”

He added: “We apologise to everyone affected.”