Campaigners in Dartford are celebrating after EDF announced it will be paying out further compensation to those affected by last summer's massive power cut.

The utility giant, which has been cleared of any blame for the incident, has escaped a £2million fine from energy regulator Ofgem, which would have also forced it to pay out another £700,000 to customers left without power last July.

But EDF has said it will pay out anyway, offering the 12,000 worst affected homes and businesses up to an extra £125 on top of the £50 goodwill payments they received in the weeks following the blackout.

It is also setting up a £750,000 community fund to be distributed to causes in Dartford and Bexley.

For the full story see next week's Dartford Messenger, out Thursday.