RESIDENTS on a road in Selby were left without power after electrical equipment under a manhole caught fire.

Police closed parts of Doncaster Road, near the New Selby War Memorial Hospital, after the blaze started at about 7.45pm on Sunday.

Firefighters used thermal imaging gear to find the source of the fire, which started after heavy rain caused water to leak into a sealed electrical vent.

Coun John Joy, who lives in nearby, said: “The manhole cover has only been there about two months, and the drain couldn’t handle the torrential rain we had.

“No one really seemed to know what was going on.

“I couldn’t see any flames, but there was acrid smoke coming out, and the police constable came round to the back of my house and wouldn’t let me go to the front to close the window. They seemed to think there would be an explosion.”

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said residents had been advised to close their windows and stay in their homes. Coun Joy said workers were still at the site yesterday afternoon, but the power had been restored to the area.