Five homes are still without power one week after a ‘power surge’.

On August 8, an unplanned power cut affected 412 properties in Churchill Avenue, Wayfield Road, Montgomery Avenue and Cunningham Crescent, in Chatham.

One resident said smoke was coming out of light switches and plug-in air fresheners shot out of the wall.

Seven fire engines were sent to the area at 1.30pm after reports of electrical boxes smoking within homes. Police were also in attendance.

Nick Johns of Montgomery Avenue told KentOnline at the time: “I was at work when my wife called and said the light switches had smoke coming out of them, were fizzing, banging and smoke was coming out of the thermostat in the bathroom.

“The fireman did say there were two house fires that they know of, I don't know if they had to put them out.

“We have had smoke out of our equipment and next door had it coming from theirs.

“A neighbour said she had aroma plug-ins that came shooting out of the wall on fire.”

UK Power Networks believe the problem was with a fault in an underground power cable.

A spokesman said: “We’ve safely restored power to all but five properties.

“There are a small number of properties where we are still trying to arrange access and we will ensure we restore their supplies once contact can be made.”