Ashford council’s offices are currently shut following a power outage.

Some 400 members of staff have been turned away or told to stay at home as the Civic Centre, in Tannery Lane, is without heat or light.

The phone lines, emails and website are also down.

Residents have been advised via social media that any council matters need to be dealt with at the Gateway Plus, in Church Road, instead.

Those taking their driving tests have been told to wait in their cars and that their instructor will meet them there.

The Ashford Health and Wellbeing Board, scheduled for this morning, was moved to International House.

It is not known when the building will re-open, but back up generators were seen being delivered to the building this morning.

A spokesman said: “There is currently no power to the Civic Centre at present, therefore there will be limited council services until power is restored.

“We do not have a timescale on this at present.

“We apologise for the inconvenience caused.”

The problems started yesterday when a power cut affected buildings in the TN24 area.

The power was lost in both the council offices and the Stour Centre, also in Tannery Lane.

The leisure centre was closed for around an hour before the power came back on, although the learner pool remains closed today as the temperature is too cold.

The council offices were able to function yesterday with the use of back up generators.

But this morning these failed too.

A spokesman added : “Hopefully it will be back on today (Wednesday), but we just don’t know.

“Face to face contact is available at the Gateway.

“We will be keeping Facebook and Twitter up to date, so advise residents to check these.”