MORE than 2,500 homes were left without power this morning after an electricity transformer exploded in Chatteris.

The fire service were called to Horsegate Gardens to investigate the explosion, which happened at about 6.30am and set off a host of car alarms.

The fault originally left 2,578 homes without power - but 606 had their electricity restored within five minutes.

Almost 250 homes in the Juniper Drive/Birch Avenue were without power for several hours. Electricity was restored to the final homes by 1.45pm.

A spokesman for UK Power Networks said: “2,578 customers originally lost their power supply when the fault occurred.

“UK Power Networks restored supplies to the first 606 customers within five minutes, with further restorations made in stages throughout the morning.

“We appreciate how difficult it is to be without electricity and apologise to all those affected.”

A fire service spokesman said: “Residents had reported hearing an explosion and that had apparently set off all the car alarms in the area. People also reported having no electricity.

“On arrivals we found that there had been an explosion in an electricity transformer.”