Electricity Back On In Portsmouth After Huge Powercut

26 June 2010, 09:15 | Updated: 27 June 2010, 08:16

Electricity's been restored to thousands of homes in Portsmouth - after a huge powercut yesterday.

At one point around 50 thousand homes and businesses were left without electricity after a fire broke out in a sub-station in Warblington Street, Old Portsmouth at 1:39am.

Crews arrived to find a fire affecting an electrical transformer - they managed to extinguish it by 6.30am.

The southern half of the city was cut off and bars and pubs in the city centre had to close early. Police said apart from a few scuffles most people had all gone home within an hour.

The power stayed off for most of the day - affecting homes, shops and businesses, including Gunwharf Quays. The car park there was closed, causing long traffic delays. Cars were told to park on Southsea Common instead, but there were also problems with traffic signals not working.

Southern Electric says supplies were all back on by 9.20 on Saturday night.