Shops and businesses in a busy town centre were without power for eight hours because of a burning underground cable.
Firefighters and electrical engineers were called to St Mary's Street, Wallingford, after passers-by spotted smoke pouring from a nearby inspection cover.
The fire caused power cuts to 24 properties - most of them businesses - and prompted complaints to Southern Electric about the state of electricity cables in the town centre.
Sabri Veseli, owner of the San Sicario restaurant in High Street, said: "The cables are old, overloaded and keep breaking and they should have been replaced years ago."
Southern Electric spokesman Denis Kerby agreed the cable was old and said the firm was working hard to upgrade all out-dated equipment.
Story date: Friday 05 February
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