Scottish and Southern Electric (SSE) has reported a power cut in the UB8 area of Uxbridge, affecting the following postcodes: UB8 2QH, 2PG and 2PL.

The network fault occurred at about 11.50am and is ongoing. Engineers are working to fix it but the company says it has no idea how long the situation will last.

About 900 properties are affected, says SSE. The fault was caused by a contractor not employed by the company accidentally damaging a cable in Cowley Mill Road. Safety mechanisms tripped in and cut the power.

Engineers are now on site working to re-route power around the fault and bring as many properties as possible back online as quickly as they can. But the SSE spokesman said some properties directly supplied by the damaged cable will remain off until the cable itself can be fixed, which could take up to eight hours.

The spokesman thanked everyone for their patience during the problem.