WORCESTER city centre was brought to a standstill as the threat of an explosion loomed over the area.

A faulty underground electric link box sent thick black smoke billowing up into The Cross and across to High Street, causing fears of a major disaster.

People were evacuated from a dozen or so shops, businesses and flats and more than 100 onlookers stood by as the drama unfolded at about 1.30pm yesterday. The Cross, St Swithin's Street and Trinity Street were completely closed to traffic.

Fire crews, the police and members of the electricity company Central Networks worked together for nearly two hours before it was declared safe enough to open an inspection cover to put out any flames.

Electricity supplies to 48 properties in The Cross, Queen Street, St Nicholas Street, and The Avenue were off for most of the afternoon. This led to congestion in these parts as traffic lights were still unable to direct vehicles during rush hour.

Sub officer David Holland, of Worcester fire service, said: "There was a risk of an explosion and our immediate fear was for the safety of members of the public.

"We could see large quantities of smoke coming from underneath the ground and we could hear sparks. We thought that maybe the inspection cover would be blown off and ourselves, the police and ambulance service, worked together to make sure everyone was safe. As usual in a situation like this, there were people watching, but they were very good and did as we asked." A spokeswoman for Central Networks said: "We were on the scene almost straight away and our engineers were there all afternoon to try to sort out the problem. A link box had blown, and we are working to find out how that happened." No one was reported hurt in the incident, but the financial cost will be felt by the dozen or so firms sealed off, and even more left without power.

Jennifer Forrest-Hay, of Forrest-Hay jewellers in The Cross, said it could not have happened at a worse time. She added: "We were evacuated at 1.30pm, which is our busiest time, and we couldn't do anything without electricity. I'm glad everyone is OK, but it will have had an effect on us as a business."

A spokeswoman for Natwest building society, also in The Cross, said: "Around 30 of us have been waiting to see what is going on. There will be a number of disappointed customers."