AS of yesterday morning (Thursday) there were around 500 homes in Herefordshire and Worcestershire still without electricity. Many of those will have had no power since early on Sunday morning. Having only had my own electricity restored on Wednesday night, I can certainly sympathise and with a new baby it's been no fun.

While the story of the Malvern couple, who were lucky not have been injured when their chimney collapsed, puts the problem of power cuts into perspective, is it right that we should, in effect, be asked to 'keep a stiff upper lip' in the face of this week's problems?

Speaking personally, I should have much-preferred Aquila to have said to me from day one, 'your power is going to be off for four days'. I might not have liked it, but at least I could have planned.

Instead, if you could get through at all on the telephone, you were told, 'your power will be back on this evening or in the morning'.

This is a modern management practice, much beloved of airlines, which seems to be based on the theory that it is best not to give people too much information, to, in the case of this week, quite literally keep them in the dark.

Despite much talk of freedom of information, government and businesses remain as secretive as ever. They must learn to trust people.