Fish saved after power restored

Fish in the tropical tanks were most at risk

Power has been restored at the National Sea Life Centre in Birmingham nearly 24 hours after a blackout left its exotic species at risk.

The centre was one of the last to be reconnected after a fire at an electricity sub-station.

Managers had feared animals were in danger because the blackout caused the water temperature in its tanks to fall.

Up to 8,500 homes and businesses in the city centre were originally hit by the power cut early on Saturday.

Before the power was restored, just after 0100 GMT on Sunday, Sea Life Centre staff managed to connect emergency power generators to boilers, which enabled them to boost water tank temperatures.

Earlier manager, Ian Crabbe, told BBC News the work had left the centre's animals with much better prospects.

'Permanent repairs'

"Fortunately there's not the same risk to the animals there was earlier," he said.

Species like the giant Hawaiian turtle and the black tipped shark had been at particular risk because of the drop in temperature.

However, Mr Crabbe said despite this electricity suppliers, Central Networks (CN), had not full explained why the centre's power had not been a priority to restore.

"It seems ridiculous that the power in a centre like this should [have still been out] approaching 24 hours later," he said.

A CN spokeswoman confirmed the power had been restored.

She said it was "unfortunate" that it was just down to the centre's location on the electricity network that left it cut off for so long.

"Following the fire, our first priority was to reconnect properties and the quickest way to do this is to divert them to another part of the network, which for most places we could do quickly," she said.

"But unfortunately there were some, like the centre, that we just could not divert and permanent repairs had to be done before they could come back on."