Businesses in Colchester town centre were put out of action when power was cut off.

An EDF Power Energy spokesman said 42 customers on North Hill were without power yesterday from 1.20pm to about 3pm when a fault on an underground cable interrupted power supplies.

She said the company would like to apologise to customers.

Thirteen afternoon appointments were cancelled at the North Hill Dental Surgery as it was without electricity to power dental equipment.

As the phone line was also down, staff had to use the fax phone to cancel appointments. Other businesses including Fort Knox properties and parts of the Gazette publishers, Newsquest (Essex), were without phones and computers.

Published Tuesday May 25, 2004

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