Power cut hits Leekes' big opening

A big power cut delayed the official opening of a revamped Black Country furniture store and left hundreds of homes without electricity.

Customers had to be turned away from Leekes of Bilston, in Moxley, on Saturday as an underground cable in the area had blown.

Bosses had been planning to hold a grand official launch of the Great Bridge Road store after its £3 million revamp.

The building lost power at around 9pm on Friday and electricity did not return until 4pm the following day.

Martyn Lewis, head of marketing for Leekes, said: "We were told the main power cable to the neighbourhood blew.

"It was a shame. All the staff came down on Saturday and were very disappointed. We had to turn away hundreds of cars."

E.On was unavailable for comment today and unable to say how many homes had been affected.

It came after around 7,000 homes and businesses in Walsall were left without power on Thursday afternoon, and more than 1,500 homes in Willenhall were hit on Tuesday night when vandals targeted an electricity substation in the area.

The latest power cut meant Leekes had to hold its launch yesterday instead.

TV chef Martin Blunos gave cooking demonstrations at the event, and Richard Randall from ITV's 60 Minute Makeover gave an interior design masterclass. Paul Martin, of BBC's Flog It, auctioned off furniture in aid of the NSPCC.