More than 1,000 village homes have been without power all afternoon.

Customers in Cuxton and Halling were cut off at 2.45pm when a third party damaged a high-voltage underground cable, a UK Power Networks spokesman said.

Some of the 1,042 customers say they were initially told power would be back by 5pm.

The power firm now estimates it could be 10pm before supplies are back online.

Reader Maureen Taylor, 56, said: "I have two daughters, one's in Cuxton, one's in Halling, and they've both got young children. Whenever they ring for an update they get told it will be later and later.

"I understand they can't always tell but it's very annoying - they could have planned to visit me."

A UK Power Networks spokesman said: "We would like to reassure customers that we are working as quickly as is safely possible to restore their power to normal.

"We realise how difficult it can be to be without power and apologise for any inconvenience."