An electrical explosion near a busy pub plunged hundreds of homes into darkness last night.

Police and firefighters were called to a stretch of pavement outside The Victoria pub, in Chalk Hill, Watford, at about 9pm.

Witnesses reported a loud bang, which blew away three concrete pavement coverings and caused smoke to billow into the air.

Power was then disrupted to hundreds of homes in the Lower High Street and Oxhey areas.

One pub worker explained: “Some of the customers heard the bang and thought a car had hit the railings outside. But it was some kind of electrical explosion under the pavement. They called the police who then called the fire brigade.

“I don’t know how it happened but I know a lot of people had power cuts afterwards. We were okay but I now some houses further way lost power.”

Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said it attended the scene but was not required.

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