SOUTHERN Electric has blamed recent power cuts to the south of Alton on tree branches being blown onto overhead power cables.

The discovery follows a month of power failures, brought to a head on Sunday when, according to Southern Electric, 847 customers in parts of Alton and the villages, most notably the Selborne, Newton Valence, Chawton, Farringdon and East Tisted area, lost power twice during the day due to the same fault.

According to the official statement, the power was off from 11.10am until 3.05pm and again from 4 to 6pm, but householders are claiming different timings. A Newton Valence resident said his power was down from 2.15 until 5.45pm on Sunday, while a Selborne resident puts the time at around 11am to noon and again from 12.50 to just before 6pm. And, she said it was "the seventh time this month (July)" that the village had suffered a prolonged period without electricity.

While the enforced blackout had, she said, delighted London visitors who had walked into The Selborne Arms to be greeted by candlelight, the loss of power, combined with a grey day, had plunged local shops and galleries into darkness and played havoc with electrical equipment, most noticeably tills and cooking facilities.

Southern Electric is having the branches cut – that may require isolation of the supply. Customers affected will be notified in advance. The work should be carried out within the next week.