EMERGENCY action was taken to divert ambulances today after a power cut at 4am crippled Maidstone Hospital for more than an hour.

Firefighters were called to the hospital in Hermitage Lane and provided portable lighting and power generators after emergency generators failed, affecting the intensive care unit, cardiac unit and special care baby unit.

A spokesman for the hospital said contingency plans had been put in place, which included closing the A&E department to new patients and diverting ambulances to Kent and Sussex Hospital.

He said it would be investigating the cause of the generator failure.

Some 3,000 customers lost power in Maidstone, due to a fault on an underground power cable. A spokesman for EDF Energy apologised for the inconvenience, and said engineers were continuing with repairs.

Electricity was restored at about 6am.