BBC News:

Twelve people were evacuated from their homes and left without power after a fire at two electricity substations.

The single blaze in Semilong Road, Northampton, started at about 21:15 BST on Thursday night, Northamptonshire Fire Service said.

Western Power Distribution (WPD) said 4,831 homes were without power for a few minutes and about 300 were still affected at about 08:00.

The fire service said the cause was an electrical accident.

Josh Lister, who lives close to the substations, said: “The whole street was very curious and worried. It smelt bad – a melting plastic smell.

“I was on the phone and the power went off in the house and the street, but it was back on at 06:25.”

A spokesman for WPD said power was interrupted to 4,831 homes and electricity was restored to 3,500 after two and a half minutes.

A low voltage cable fault meant 339 homes were still without power at Friday breakfast time, but the firm was working to restore power to the remaining homes.