Power cut after substation fire

Smoke from Saturday's fire: Pic by Les Evans

Thousands of homes were left without power after a fire at an electricity substation.

The fire, in Redditch, Worcestershire, was reported during Saturday morning. Up to 50 firefighters are tackling the blaze at the scene.

The fire is at the same substation, in Mason Road, which was the scene of an explosion in January.

Up to 14,000 homes were without power when the fire started but they were all back on within two hours.

On the previous occasion up to 25,000 addresses were without electricity.

It is not yet known what triggered the blaze.

A spokeswoman for Central Networks said the cause of the previous fire is still being investigated but lessons had been learnt which is why so many homes were able to be reconnected quickly.

"To have a substation fire is rare but to have two is extraordinary," she said.