People have been enduring power cuts for nine weeks after a cable that leads to their homes was cut.

About 20 houses in Pilgrims Road, Halling, have been without a mains supply since July 12 when contractors building nearby homes at a former cement works accidentally chopped through the cable.

Housebuilder Redrow is building 400 homes for an estate called St Andrew’s Park on the site in Formby Road.

On the day the incident happened, the 20 homes and others in the area were without power for 12 hours until UK Power Networks provided a diesel generator.

Other properties were turned back on via the mains supply later that day, but residents in Pilgrims Road are still waiting.

They said they are fed up with the situation because the generator has had to be replaced twice due to breakdowns, and the electricity goes off for a couple of hours each day.

Ray Barwick, 68, said: "The generator breaks down every day. We have a number to call, and engineers come and fix it, but it’s not good enough.

"We just want our mains supply back on, and we'd like to know when that will be. I work for a charity from home so that’s being affected.

Ruth Brown, 62, added: "It has been nine weeks. We’ve not had one letter to tell us what’s going on – no apology, nothing.

Dawn Maynard, 44, said: "I worry about what’s in my freezer. In fact, I no longer stock up the freezer as we just don’t know when the power is going to go off.

"I am often worried about what’s in my fridge, too. If the power is off for hours, I wonder if I should give the children things to eat that have been in there.

"I have to use my computer for my business. I breed cats, and the internet is essential
to me.

"We are fed up with it. Nine weeks is a long time."

Lorraine McGregor, 51, added: "We make calls every day to report there is no electric, but nothing gets done.

"It is affecting lives and businesses. Many people run their businesses from their homes here.

"Every day we have been without power for some of the time, and it can be up to four hours before it’s back on. We are all fed up with it."

A spokesman for UK Power Networks said the company was working to resolve power problems in Pilgrims Road after a third party damaged a high-voltage underground cable.

"When it was established that a quick, straightforward repair was not possible, a generator was installed the next day to provide temporary supplies.

"Various technical factors have been assessed in the following weeks.

"Further work was due to take place on September 5 and September 6 to ensure that the faulty cable is repaired and that the customers can be served by a permanent cable."