Damaged cable behind power cuts

Power cuts affecting hundreds of homes in Kent have been caused by damage to an underground cable after a company increased its electricity demand.

EDF Electricity has said it is working with the business to address its power needs, while reinforcing the network.

Residents in Grove Green and Weavering in Maidstone said the outages ranged from two to seven hours.

Mala Visram said she kept her children warm with hot water bottles as it was freezing cold at times.

David Styles said he rigged up his own lighting using a car battery.

This was not intentional on the customer's part Neeve Arnett, EDF

And other residents said they had been eating out at restaurants at times when they have been unable to use their kitchens.

EDF spokesman Neeve Arnett said: "We have found that a business customer in the area has increased their need for power supplies and this has damaged an underground cable.

"We are working extremely closely with this customer to address their power needs while at the same time reinforcing the network to restore a good power supply to the area.

"This was not intentional on the customer's part."

The company said it had spent £15,000 on installing a new cable and had also installed a temporary generator in the area.