Power supply restored after fire

The fire affected traffic lights in the area. Picture by Leighton Grant

Electricity has been restored to a "majority" of homes after thousands were left without power after a fire at a south London sub-station.

Thirty firefighters tackled the blaze at the Sydenham Park Road sub-station, Forest Hill. The fire has been put out.

Two of the four transformers, located outside the building, were damaged by the flames. The power cut led to the failure of scores of traffic lights.

Southern trains have resumed services and there are now no delays.

It was big, black, thick billows of smoke Lisa Brown, local resident

The areas affected by the power cut were Lewisham, Eltham, Sydenham, Brockley, Forest Hill, Catford, Bromley, Beckenham, New Addington and Orpington.

A spokesman for EDF Energy said power was restored to a majority of houses by midday on Sunday.

"We are now able to access most of the site and are working to restore supplies to remaining customers as quickly as possible." he said.

Power supplies in the area were earlier shut down due to the fire.

Trains are not stopping at Forest Hill. Picture by Carly Pinnock

Residents near Forest Hill reported seeing flames and smoke.

Lisa Brown, who lives in Forest Hill, said: "The smoke was billowing and absolutely enormous. I live quite a way from the actual substation but you could see it for miles around.

"It was big, black, thick billows of smoke."

BBC1, BBC2 and BBC London 94.9 also went off air in some parts of London at around that time.