More than 300 homes were left without power for more than two hours last night after an electrical explosion, it has been confirmed.

Customers at The Victoria, in Chalk Hill, reported a small explosion under the pavement at about 8.45pm last night.

Power was then lost to 332 nearby homes, it has been confirmed by UK Power Networks.

A spokeswoman said: “UK Power Networks has restored power to all those affected by a fault on the high voltage underground electricity network in the Chalk Hill area of Watford, at 8.45pm last night.

“Engineers worked as quickly and as safely as possible to restore power, with all 332 customers reconnected to the electricity supply by 11.20pm. We are still investigating the cause of the fault.

“We understand how difficult it is to be without electricity and would like to apologise for the inconvenience caused.”

The blackout is the latest in a long line of recent power cuts in parts of the town. In January 328 customers in the St Albans Road area were without power for early a whole day.

More than 650 homes, meanwhile, were left without power for nearly five hours on November 15 when a similar fault occurred.

Scrap metal thieves, meanwhile, cut power to thousands of homes in April.