SHOPS in Burnley have been forced to close after a power cut left residents without electricity.
Shops in Briercliffe Road closed for the afternoon after electricity cables were accidentally damaged.
But United Utilities who are responsible for cables have said that power will be back on by tea time.
A spokesman for the company said: "Power supplies to the road were accidentally damaged by a third party company at 11.30am.
"At present we are not sure how the damage was caused or who was responsible but we have sent a team of engineers to the road to rectify the problem.
"A number of properties have been left without power but we are hopeful that power will be back on by tea time."
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