Electricity company apologises after more than 500 homes and businesses without power

An electricity company has apologised after the second power cut in just over a month left more than 500 homes and business in Hoxton in the dark.

Some people are without power again today after supplies went down around Hoxton Street shortly after 10.30am yesterday (Thursday).

A “particularly difficult” fault in an underground cable near Hoxton Square was to blame for the problem, which affected 529 customers, a spokeswoman for UK Power Networks said.

Engineers worked through the night and the majority of electricity supplies were restored to customers between 11pm yesterday and 2.15am today, she said. Remaining customers were back on supply by about 4am but “a small number” of customers were without power at lunchtime today.

“We would like to reassure customers that we are working as quickly as is safely possible to resolve this,” she said.

“We recognise how uncomfortable it is being without electricity, especially in such cold weather and we apologise to customers for the inconvenience caused.”

Bars and restaurants used candles so they could continue to trade during the power cut yesterday.

And British Red Cross volunteers handed out warm drinks and torches.

Another power cut at the beginning of December left people in 561 homes and businesses in Hoxton shivering in the grip of the snowy weather.