A LARGE part of Chatham town centre was plunged into darkness this morning. A power cut affected a stretch of the High Street from the Luton Arches, Bachelor Street and part of Luton Road.

Stores left in darkness included supermarkets Tesco and Iceland. Also affected were the Medway Today and Kent Today newspaper offices and Pembroke Court sheltered housing.

One of there, Reg Dixon, said many of his neighbours had walked into town for a morning cup of tea when their kettles failed to work. The cause of the failure was being investiagted.