A plan to install electrical sockets in Helston town centre for use on Flora Day has run into difficulties after workers discovered existing gas lines under the street.

Employees of contractor SSE had |started work on installing the feeder pillar at the bottom of Horse and Jockey |Lane when they found the pipes and work was stopped.

Town centre regeneration officer Martin Searle told a meeting of Helston Town Council: “It’s disappointing, but if we can find an alternative. On passing on the information, they will come the following day to install it.”

The setback has also had a knock on effect on another pillar, in Coinagehall Street, as although it had been installed Western Power had originally provided |a quote for connecting both posts at the same time.

Mr Searle said he had been in conversation with “senior managers at SSE” and “made it known that we are not very happy with the situation,” and he is hoping pressure will be brought to bear on Western Power.

Councillor Martine Knight said: “I’m surprised there was no record of gas services at domestic properties. British |Gas hold very detailed records.”

She also asked if, should no location be identified at the bottom of Horse and Jockey Lane, it would be possible to install a second pillar in Coinagehall Street. She suggested a possible location by the side of the Methodist Church, where there are currently two town council bins very close together.

Mr Searle said he would like to see a larger feeder pillar at the bottom of the street “where the biggest power users are likely to be every year.”

He added that he was also in discussion with a firm who could supply “almost silent” generators for Flora day, to be |sited next to the temporary toilets on Trengrouse Way.