The boss of a tyre firm says it is being forced to reject business because of a lack of electricity in the area.

Mark McIntyre, proprietor of Fox Tyres in Foxborough Hill, Eastry, claims he is having to turn away customers as UK Power Networks’ supply to the area is not sufficient to serve his machinery.

The tyre repair centre relies on two compressors but says for the past two weeks neither has been able to run without ‘tripping out’.

Mr McIntyre reported the problem on Thursday, January 10 and is frustrated that still no improvements have been made - although UK Power Networks says equipment is now being monitored.

But in the meantime, the business owner must continue to pay out for a diesel-run compressor and send his staff home.

He said: “I’m angry because the business is doing well and we’re building up a good customer base but we’re having to let people down because we can’t do the work.

“We can only have two or three people in at any one time as our machines can’t cope with more than that.

“We’re turning customers away because we can’t do the work quick enough.

"They [UK Power Networks] need to upgrade it but I feel like they’re not willing to spend the money.”

Mr McIntyre has run his business - which is managed by Patrick Roberts - with the same machinery for almost eight years.

He says UK Power Networks engineers have visited the site twice since he reported the problem but no feedback has been given.

He claims the company has known about the issue since 2015 - when KentOnline's sister paper The Mercury also investigated the problem - but has chosen not to make the necessary upgrades.

He said: “It happens every winter but usually we get through it.

“The only time I have contact with them is when I call them.”

Neighbouring Foxborough Auto Centre said their business is also suffering, with the lights flickering when they use their ramp.

A UK Power Networks spokesman said: “Following an issue reported to us on January 10 we are installing monitoring equipment on the network to understand the cause and we will be keeping the customer updated.”