An electrical fire has left nearly 70 shops and homes in Ilford without power.
At around 10.00pm last night crews from Ilford Fire Station attended a fire below a manhole cover.
UK Power Network engineers are still working to restore power to customers in the Empress Avenue area.
According to a local shopkeeper, the shops on one side of Belgrave Road are unable to operate as they are without power.
The fault is believed to be on a piece of equipment on the underground cable network.
Empress Avenue resident, Monica Mann, 24, said: “Power went off at 10pm. I left my house and the fire brigade were there. They said it would be back in the next few hours but we still don’t have power back.”
A UK Power Networks spokesman said: “We realise how difficult it can be to be without electricity and apologise for any inconvenience.”
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