NEIGHBOURS are dismayed to have suffered persistent power cuts for two weeks, with one resident likening it to 'living in the third world' as the power went out 'practically everyday'.
People living on Bridlebank Way and Lorton Gardens in Weymouth are 'totally fed up' after experiencing a as many as 10 power cuts between August 9 and 23, according to one resident.
People living in the area said that the power was generally going out in the afternoons and evenings, just when they would be making their dinner and relaxing watching television.
Deborah Cripps was celebrating her birthday on August 23 when the power went down, prompting her to go to Plymouth to get away.
She said: "I had just put a joint of beef in the oven on my birthday and my kids and their partners were down to celebrate but I couldn't cook it as the power went off so we had to get a takeaway. This was the tenth power cut since August 9, it was going our practically everyday.
"I am totally fed up with it constantly going down. I've bought food and then been unable to cook it and I'm sick of buying takeaways. I can't get any compensation for the amount of money I have had to spend because I cannot cook.
"I've gone to visit my son in Plymouth as I am so sick of it all. It's like living in a third world country."
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) staff have reportedly fixed the fault, but residents are not convinced that the power will stay on.
Karen and Alistair Gordon will have to see it to believe it. Karen said: "We have heard it has been fixed but we have heard that so many times I don't really believe it."
Alistair said: "We have got torches that we keep near us now because the power has gone out so many times that we have got to be prepared. It is not acceptable at all."
Karen added: "I worry about the elderly people around here - the lights go off and it is pitch black and if they are not prepared it can be really dangerous for them, especially if they are on their own."
Gary Morris-Roe said: "I've been living here for 10 years and the power seems to go down every year. It is very frustrating when it goes down when I want a hot drink as I have to boil water on the hob.
"SSEN said they have fixed it now so I am hoping that this will be the last time this happens but I doubt it."
A spokesman for SSEN said: "SSEN would like to apologise to its customers in Weymouth’s Bridlebank Way and Lorton Gardens after a fault on the local underground network caused intermittent power cuts on six occasions between August 9 and 19.
"The transient nature of the fault meant engineers had to work across several different areas to pinpoint the exact location and SSEN would like to reassure its customers that this fault has now been tracked and fully repaired."
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