In the dark as power cut hits

Central Networks said the black-out, at around 1.45pm, affected properties in the centre of the city including Severn Terrace, Sansome Walk, Shaw Street and Hylton Road.

The Worcester News office, in Hylton Road, was without lights for around 45 minutes and without power to computers for around an hour.

Other properties, described by the company as non-priority buildings, were kept in the dark for longer. There was also a second, brief power cut soon after the electricity was first reconnected.

Power seemed to be fully restored by 3.15pm.

A spokesman for Central Networks yesterday said he did not know the cause because the first priority was to reconnect properties, rather than investigate the problem.

"We try to ensure we get the power on first, then discover the reason later," he said.

"That's the way we always work."