37,000 lose power

Facing an uncertain time without light, hundreds of householders went to their hostelry to find warmth and solace.

The power cut occurred at 6.29pm when a faulty current shattered insulators at a central Lewes grid sub-station.

Supplies were lost in Lewes, Uckfield, Newick, Horsebridge and Ripe.

The supply came back on after what seemed like a lengthy 37 minutes although Ripe remained without power until 10.45pm.

Horsebridge lost its power again at 8.45pm and also remained off until 10.45pm. At that point 1,500 customers were still in the dark.

There were fears that motorists negotiating narrow streets such as those at Lewes without traffic lights or street lighting might be involved in accidents but in the event none were reported by police or fire brigade.

There was a particularly spiritual air to proceedings at religious hotel Pilgrim Hall when Uckfield Chamber of Commerce had to hold its meeting by candlelight.

Chamber members were just about to start their bi-monthly meeting when the hotel at Easons Green was plunged into darkness. After a short delay, the meeting proceeded within the holy glow of candlelight.

A spokesman for the 52-room hotel, which offers conferencing facilities for religious and church groups, said: 'Perhaps it was divine intervention!'

Peter Baldwin, landlord of the Lamb at Ripe said: 'It was fun. We didn't have any food but there was plenty to drink by candlelight.

'We were very busy. We had double our normal customers at the bar. And all they wanted to do was drink. People were chatting away and enjoying themselves.'

A Seeboard spokesman said: 'We can only offer our apologies. It was a mechanical fault.'