SUPERMARKET tills locked shut and a surgery could not access patients' files after more than 1,000 properties were hit by a power cut in Felixstowe.Workmen were today blamed for the blackout – after it was said they cut through a high voltage cable by mistake while working just outside the port.

SUPERMARKET tills locked shut and a surgery could not access patients' files after more than 1,000 properties were hit by a power cut in Felixstowe.

Workmen were today blamed for the blackout – after it was said they cut through a high voltage cable by mistake while working just outside the port.

Electricity engineers were quickly on the scene and managed to get all the properties back on in four hours.

The power cut hit the resort's Cavendish Park estate, with 1,508 homes and businesses affected.

These included the Safeway store in Grange Farm Avenue, where management feared it could cause chiller cabinet foods and stores to defrost – and they had an agonising for few moments as they switched to generators.

Store manager Tony Jeeves said: "We lost total power for a while and had to switch to the generators. We managed to get the power back on in about ten minutes – which was fine as we had feared it might be a lot worse.

"It did mean for a short while we could not operate our tills but customers were very patient and excellent."

Computers went down at the nearby Haven Health Surgery, leaving doctors unable to access patients' records as they waited for power to be restored.

A number of offices on the outskirts of the port were also affected as workers could not use computers after electricity went off at around 1.30pm.

A spokesman for EDF Energy, formerly known as 24seven, said the power cut had been caused by damage to an 11,000 volt cable between the Anzani House sub-station in Parker Avenue and the Orwell House complex in Ferry Lane.

Investigations had centred on Dock Road and engineers had switched supplies to other circuits while the damage was located and repaired.

"The damage originally knocked out 1,508 customers and power was restored to 1,216 of them by 2.15pm after they were switched to another circuit," he said.

"It looks as if someone has cut into one of the wires while working somewhere in the area and damaged it."

The company got another 285 back on 20 minutes later, with the last handful being reconnected later in the afternoon.