Pubs anger after power cut

The lights went out just after 6pm, and it was almost four hours later before they came back on - and even then it was only possible to switch on low-voltage lights.

The villages of Cliffe, Hemingbrough, Barlby, Osgodby and North Duffield were all affected.

Marva Wilson, landlady of the Crown Inn, in Hemingbrough, said they had lost more than £1,000 worth of trade through the blackout, which occurred on Christmas Eve. She said: "We had the dining room fully booked and no one was able to eat.

"All the people who had booked turned up. They ended up ordering take-aways and then went back home - it was a disaster.

"It adds insult to injury when we are surrounded by power stations."

Mrs Wilson said they were now inquiring about possible compensation.

Just across the road at the Fox and Pheasant, landlord Gary Oates was also fuming.

He said he lost almost £1,000 after customers either did not bother to turn up or stayed at home.

Mr Oates said: "We ended up selling bottled beer. It couldn't have happened at a worse time and I plan to ask for compensation."

At Barlby, New Inn landlord Colin Deakin said the live band he had booked could not perform until after 10pm when low-voltage electricity was just enough to power the amplifiers.

He said it was not until 12.45am that full power was restored.

Selby councillor Brian Marshall had to run down to the home of his son, Richard, on the Wainhomes estate, in Barlby, with some candles after the whole estate was left in the dark.

Selby computer firm boss Simon Easthill, of Cliffe, said he had to put his son's new bicycle together by candlelight.

A Yorkshire Electricity spokesman said that a faulty overhead power line had caused the blackout.

The line had been damaged by strong winds over a long period of time and had finally "given up the ghost."

He said they were not legally obliged to pay for business loss and claimants should contact their insurance companies.

Updated: 16:01 Friday, January 03, 2003