Underground fault leaves town in dark

A big section of Ashford town centre was plunged into darkness for two hours last Thursday night by a power cut.

The electricity suddenly went off at 10.05pm.

In a statement on its website, UK Power Networks said the power cut was caused by, “an underground electricity cable faulted on our high voltage network, causing an area wide power cut”.

Power was restored around midnight.

UK Power Networks added: “We are sorry for any trouble this may have caused you.”

The company said the incident could have affected properties and businesses in the TN24 and TN23 poscode areas.

Kentish Express reporter Molly Mileham-Chappell was inside The County Hotel in the Lower High Street when the power suddenly went.

She said: “Mass power cut in town tonight at 10.05pm exactly.

“Was in the County Hotel when it went pitch black. The road all the way up from the Panorama to the Everest Inn was in total darkness. The pubs cleared out quite quickly as it’s a bit hard to drink in the dark!

“The emergency lights came on in the building and many people were using their phone lights to see where they were going and what they were doing.

“Heard one of the bar staff ask a customer if it’s the whole street too and they said yes, because they were looking out the window.”