Thousands of homes lost power this morning after a high-voltage underground cable developed a fault.

UK Power Networks said almost 7,000 properties lost power across 19 postcodes in the New Ash Green, Hartley and Fawkham areas just after 9.30am this morning.

Engineers have been working to restore supply and have brought homes back onto the grid in stages by diverting power from other sources,

Currrently there are 258 homes still without electricity.

The company hopes to have the power back to everyone by 1pm.

Repair of the faulty cable is likely to take much longer.