Power cut hits 650 homes (From Witney Gazette)

Power cut hits 650 homes

3:05pm Tuesday 2nd January 2007 in Witney

SOUTHERN Electric apologised after 650 homes in west Oxfordshire lost power on New Year's Eve - just an hour before midnight.

Southern Electric spokesman Julian Reeves said the power supply in Kingham was lost at 10.50pm when an overhead cable was damaged.

He said power was restored to 500 homes by 2.30am on New Year's Day, but added about 150 houses had to wait until 4pm.

Mr Reeves added the damage was caused accidentally by a third party, who he declined to identify.

He said: "We apologise to everybody that was affected, but we did all we could."