5,000 in the dark as Wolverhampton hit by power cut

More than 5,000 homes and businesses in Wolverhampton city centre were left without power today after a huge failure in the supply network.

A total of 5,310 properties including businesses due to open up for the day in Chapel Ash lost power at 7.40am. Engineers from Central Networks were sent to try to fix the fault.

The cause of the problem, affecting Compton Road, Tettenhall Road, Merridale Street and Finchfield Road West, was unknown but it is believed it may have been weather related.

Around 1,000 properties had been reconnected by 8.45am. Central Networks spokesman Jonathan Smith said engineers were first concentrating on reconnecting customers before trying to establish what caused the failure.

Workers arrived at vehicle repair garage HiQ Wolverhampton in Chapel Ash this morning to find they had no power.

Receptionist Emma Edwards, aged 30, of Upper Street, Tettenhall, said: "There are no lights on in reception and none in the depot so we've had no choice but to down tools at the moment. We have got 11 workers here today and half a dozen jobs in for this morning, as well as the cars we have in from yesterday.

"I'm hoping we get back on soon so we can get the cars back to people for Christmas."