SCORES of businesses and homes across York city centre were left without power for most of Wednesday evening.

Northern Powergrid said this afternoon that 160 properties in streets including Blake Street, Coney Street, Bootham, Museum Street, Bootham and Gillygate had lost their electricity supplies due to an unexpected problem with cables or equipment.

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It originally estimated that supplies would be restored by 4.45pm but at 4.48pm its message was: "We're currently reviewing how long it will take to get your power back on."

At 5.30pm, it said it now estimated supplies would be restored by 9pm.

By 8.55pm, that estimate had slipped back to 9.30pm. By 9.40pm, it had slipped further to 10pm.

By 10.10 pm, power had been restored to all properties.

Another 70 properties in the Blossom Street area were also affected by a power cut earlier but supplies appeared to have been restored.

Fifty properties in Helmsley have also suffered a power cut, with Northern Powergrid estimating supplies would be restored by 7.30pm.