A small explosion at a substation in the centre of Ramsgate caused a blackout for more than 1,500 businesses and homes earlier today.

An equipment fault in a substation in Broad Street led to the power loss at 2pm, which lasted for just over an hour.

The outage set off alarms in several properties and retail outlets including Iceland and Poundland.

Broad Street was closed to traffic, and buses were diverted.

Michelle Gregg, the owner of Broad Street cafe Coles of Ramsgate, said: “There was a loud buzzing and then a loud bang and everyone’s power went off for about an hour.

“There was some smoke and flames from the substation just up the road and lots of alarms went off.”

Jenny Chapman, of UK Power Networks, said: “UK Power Networks engineers worked as quickly and as safely as possible to restore electricity supplies to 1,520 properties in Ramsgate following a fault on a piece of equipment at a substation in the town at 2.05pm today.

“All supplies were restored at 3.10pm.

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

Kent Police spokesman Richard Allen said: “Kent Police were called to provide traffic control for a short time and Broad Street was briefly closed.”