Mains cable explodes in centre of Albrighton days after flood
Albrighton's bad luck continued as an electricity cable exploded and caused power cuts to homes who were clearing up from this week's floods.
Lights went out and security alarms could be heard throughout the centre of the village after the mains cable blew in an underground pit in the High Street, leaving nearly 1,000 homes without power..
Firefighters, police and gas and electricity companies were quickly on the scene after the 999 calls at 10.45pm and power was restored less than an hour later.
Shropshire Fire and Rescue service said: “The incident involved one 11,000 volt mains electricity cable exploding in an underground pit under the footpath.
"Both the gas and electricity board were in attendance to deal with the problem.”
Louise Birkett, spokeswoman for Western Power Distribution, said 955 houses lost power.
She said power was restored within 35 minutes and more extensive repairs would be carried out as soon as possible.
The power cut came two days after flash flooding submerged buildings and swamped roads around Albrighton in what some villagers described as the most torrential rain they've seen.
The power company said that they were not aware of a link between the flooding and the cable explosion.
Stella Hayward of Western Power said: "The local team in the area have investigated and at this stage they do not think the cut was related to the flooding."
