Power cut knocks out most of Newbury

Thousands of houses along with large swathes of the town lost power including the local radio station and hospital

Newbury has been hit by a massive power cut.

Power was lost at approximately 12.30pm with most of the town centre affected as well as the Andover Road area, Wash Common, Shaw and Greenham.

Town centre shops were badly affected during what should have been a busy lunchtime with people forced to leave in droves as tills refused to open.

Southern Electric told Newburytoday.co.uk that the original fault was reported at 12.30pm in central Newbury and that engineers have been dispatched to investigate.

Spokesman Greg Clarke said Andover Road, Faraday Road and the town centre are the worst affected by the power cut which has been caused by a fault to the high voltage network. Southern Electric say it's too early to say what has caused the damage.

Followers of Newburytoday's Twitter account @newburytoday have told us that Stryker of Hambridge Road, Kingsclere's Living Paintings Trust, Newbury Retail Park have all been affected.

One poor woman even had to naviagte her trip to the toilet by torchlight....

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