YORK Minster was plunged into darkness when a power cut hit parts of the city centre for almost two hours.

About 350 properties in the Bootham, Gillygate and High Petergate areas were affected yesterday, including York Theatre Royal and a number of council offices.

The Evening Press offices in Walmgate was also affected briefly.

A spokeswoman for City of York Council said power remained on at the Guildhall, but one set of traffic lights and the council's variable message signs were put out of action by the cut at 3pm.

A number of council workers were sent home early before emergency lighting ran out and they were left in darkness.

Energy company NEDL confirmed that the power cut was caused by an underground cable fault.

Updated: 10:45 Friday, December 05, 2003