City centre hit by power failure

The Arndale Centre was among the businesses affected

Electricity supplies to more than 36,000 homes and businesses in Greater Manchester were cut after a fault on an overhead power line.

Areas affected included the city centre, Bury, Prestwich and Salford. Metrolink trams were also disrupted.

United Utilities said power had since been restored to all those affected, which included the Arndale Centre and city centre banks and shops.

An investigation is expected into the failure on a line at Cannon Street.

A spokesman for the Greater Manchester Passengers Transport Executive (GMPTE) said trams had been stopped in their tracks.

'Major failure'

Services were off in Manchester city centre and routes in and out of Salford Quays and Altrincham were affected.

A United Utilities spokeswoman said there was a "major failure" on an overhead power line that feeds central Manchester, Bury, Prestwich and Salford.

Steve Cox, United Utilities electricity response manager, said: "We apologise to everyone affected by this fault. At this stage our priority has been to get power back on as quickly as possible.

"When we have completed repairs we will investigate what caused the fault."