FRESHBROOK residents are used to coming back to their homes to find their power has been cut.

For six years people in Worsley Road have suffered repeated problems with their supply and have lost power 11 times in the past 12 months alone.

Now they have collected a petition demanding Southern Electric takes action to stop the problem happening again.

Resident Peter Flynn, who is leading the campaign, said: "We moved into the area six years ago and we have had problems since then.

"I have often come home to find I can't even have a cup of tea. I have had meals ruined, lights going off when we are cooking it causes all kinds of problems.

"Last week I slept in and was late to work because we had a cut in the middle of the night and my alarm clock was switched off."

Mr Flynn is asking residents to write to Southern Electric's customer services department expressing their anger and frustration and demanding an answer.

He says he wants some kind of compensation, but industry regulators say money will only be given if a cut lasts for longer than 18 hours.

Southern Electric said it has traced the problem to a piece of cable which needs to be replaced.

In the past 12 months on Worsley Road, there have been three power cuts due to third party involvement, and eight because of the cable itself.

Southern Electric spokeswoman Jennifer Paice said: "We were aware of the power cuts and have identified the cause as a piece of cable which has come to the end of its useful life.

"We will start a programme of repairs in this area on November 1. I can only apologise for any inconvenience which has been caused."