OVER 2,000 homes in Falmouth were left without power yesterday after a JCB digger working in the Goldenbank area cut through a major power line.

Offices and homes, including Falmouth Business Park, where the Packet is based, were abruptly plunged into darkness just after 2 pm.

A team of engineers from Western Power were quickly on the scene and toured the area, re-routing the power supply through sub-stations, with some homes and businesses coming back on line 45 minutes later.

Over 2,200 homes were effected by the black-out with Western Power having to bring up generators for the residents who had no electricity.

Company spokeswoman Irene Hucker said that power to most homes was back on by ten past three. About 150 homes in Swanvale were more badly affected.

"Our engineers were on the scene quickly and managed to re-route the power to get the majority of the homes back on," she said. "Homes that we can't get back on line will be supplied with a generator until the power is restored.

"Most companies ask us for maps before they start digging with JCBs so they can see where our power cables are. That's what we encourage people to do. This does not seem to have happened in this case."

Confused residents of Goldenbank came out on to the streets to try and find out what had happened, many worried about freezers and fridges full of food.

The culprit was traced to a digger on Spear's Terrace where developer Roy Boden was laying drainage for a house being built above Swanvale. Men had to scramble out of a trench after there was a bang and a puff of smoke.

Shops in Boslowick were affected and office computer systems crashed, causing loss of work and disruption to business. The Packet was late going to press last night because of the power-cut.

"It was just one of these things," said Mr Boden. "It was quite simply an accident. We were excavating for drainage and we hit the cable. It was nothing dramatic, everything just went off. Our men got out of the trench straight away.

"We are now just waiting for the power company to sort out the power."

He said any cost would probably have to be borne by his insurers.

Western Power manager Stephen Rogers said he had three men out searching the system to get all the power back on line and a generator was being brought up for people at Swan's Reach.