Excitement and anticipation turned to despair for football fans as 2,000 homes suffered repeated power cuts during England's Euro 2004 clash with Switzerland.

Big match blackout - Marilyn and Bob Brunton missed part of the game Picture: ANNA LUKALA

One of the worst hit areas was Eastwood where Marilyn and Bob Brunton, of Grove Hill, watched the game from home.

Mrs Brunton, 61, said: "It was about five minutes before kick-off when everything went out, the cooker, everything. My husband was running around going mad."

Crowds at pubs in Rayleigh were stunned as TV screens went blank shortly before England scored for the first time during the match.

Joe Gandy, of the Paul Pry pub in High Road, Rayleigh, said: "People were shouting at the blank TV screen. Panic struck and their was a sigh of relief when it came back on."

The random blackouts are not believed to have cut coverage during any of the goals scored during England's 3-0 victory.

Duty manager at the Ye Old Crown pub in Rayleigh High Street, Lee Baily, said he felt immeasurable relief when the coverage returned.

He said: "Let's just say we were glad the coverage came back.

"At one point, we waited about 30 or 40 seconds without coverage - people were calling out and there was nothing we could do."

A spokesman for power company 24/7 said more than 2,000 of its customers were affected by the power cuts.

Published Friday June 18, 2004