A FAULT in a high-voltage underground electric cable brought disruption to shoppers and traders in a town centre.

Power went off in Maidstone at 9.49am on Tuesday affecting shops and offices in the High Street, Bank Street and Week Street.

Blockbuster, in Union Street, which had been due to open at 10am, delayed opening until power was restored by EDF Energy, while other businesses, including a handful in Fremlin Walk unable to operate electric tills, had to ask customers to leave.

A member of staff at the Zara clothes shop in Fremlin Walk said: “We closed for half an hour or more for health and safety reaons.”

EDF re-routed the supply and restored power to all but 77 customers by 10.34am and to all premises by 12.07pm.