More than 50 properties have been without power since 8am this morning after an electrical fault.

Properties in the Jamaica Road and Lakehall Road area of Thornton Heath have been without power for nine hours, after a fault was discovered in a substation.

Last week, 417 residents were sent leaflets explaining their power would be cut off between 8am and 5pm today, to allow engineers to carry out repairs to an underground electricity cable.

But an unexpected fault led to an extra 54 homes in the area losing power.

One resident who did not want to be named, said: "It is such a pain. I didn't go to work today because I couldn't have a shower. I wanted to iron a shirt this morning and couldn't.

"If it doesn't come back on later, I will have to go to my sister's house in Purley."

A spokesman for UK Power Networks said: "UK Power Networks engineers are working as quickly and as safely as possible to restore power to 54 customers in Thornton Heath.

"We appreciate how frustrating it is to be without electricity and we apologise for any inconvenience caused."

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