Shoppers and business owners along the bustling High Street faced unexpected disruption on Saturday afternoon, as a major power outage brought commercial activity to an abrupt standstill. The outage, which began shortly after midday, left dozens of shops plunged into darkness, halting transactions at one of the week’s busiest times. With registers and card machines offline, both customers and staff were left uncertain about when normal service would resume.
According to initial reports from the local electricity provider, the outage was caused by an unforeseen electrical failure somewhere along the main supply line feeding the High Street district. Engineers were dispatched almost immediately, but the exact cause was not immediately identified. Eyewitnesses described shop lights flickering before going out entirely, while alarms and emergency lights activated in a few locations, adding to the confusion.
Many business owners expressed frustration at the timing, given that Saturdays usually generate a significant portion of their weekly revenue. Kate Robinson, manager of a popular clothing boutique, stated, “This is our busiest trading day, and to lose power at midday is especially damaging. We rely heavily on weekend sales, and the uncertainty left us unable to serve customers or even lock up properly."
The surrounding area was also affected, with nearby cafes and restaurants forced to close or drastically limit their operations. Some eateries had to send lunchtime diners away, unable to cook or process electronic payments. One café owner, Paul Ellis, explained, “We had dozens of customers in and food orders mid-preparation. With ovens and fridges going offline, there was nothing we could do but apologise and issue IOUs for unfinished meals.”
For many customers, the power cut turned a casual shopping outing into a logistical headache. Jane Parsons, who was in the middle of checking out at a retail store when the lights went out, described the chaos: “Everyone just stopped in their tracks. The tills weren’t working, and staff were just as lost as we were. In the end, I had to abandon my shopping and leave empty-handed.”
Emergency services were quick to respond, ensuring no one was trapped in lifts or automated doors, which suddenly stopped functioning. Local police maintained a presence on the High Street, as a precautionary measure to manage crowds and discourage opportunistic crime. Fortunately, there were no reports of accidents or injuries resulting from the blackout, though some elderly shoppers were escorted safely out of dimly lit premises.
The local council provided regular updates on social media, urging residents to remain patient while power crews assessed the situation. Officials also advised vulnerable individuals, such as the elderly and those with medical equipment dependent on electricity, to seek assistance if necessary. Additional support lines were set up for those needing help during the outage, and community centres opened their doors to offer a temporary refuge.
By late afternoon, the cause of the failure was traced to a damaged underground cable, which engineers believe may have been compromised during routine utility work earlier in the week. A spokesperson for the electricity company said, “We are working as quickly as possible to repair the damaged line and restore service to all affected customers. We apologise for the inconvenience and appreciate everyone’s patience during this challenging situation.”
Local traders are now assessing the financial cost of the disruption. The High Street Business Association estimates total losses across affected stores could run into tens of thousands of pounds. Association chairperson Omar Rahman emphasised the need for better infrastructure resilience, stating, “Our members simply can’t afford repeated incidents like this. We will be pushing for urgent review meetings with the supplier and local authorities.”
Despite the setback, community spirit was evident as neighbouring shopkeepers offered each other assistance, lending torches and providing updates. Many residents took the outage in stride as an opportunity to support one another, with some local volunteers helping to direct pedestrian traffic and ensure the safety of those navigating darkened pavements and crossings.
As evening approached and engineers worked to restore power, businesses and shoppers alike reflected on the episode’s impact. While Saturday’s outage highlighted vulnerabilities in local infrastructure, it also showcased the resilience and solidarity of the High Street community. With electricity finally restored just before closing time, owners now look ahead to making up for lost trade and hope for swift action to prevent future incidents.