A COUNCILLOR has called for action after almost 20,000 people were left without power for two hours.

Electricity was cut off across Barnoldswick, Earby and the surrounding villages just before noon on Tuesday, and was not switched back on until two hours later.

Businesses had to turn customers away during the busy lunch period, while alarms were set off and traffic lights were put out of action.

This incident was caused when engineers accidentally cut through a main cable, but councillor Margaret Bell, chairman of Pendle Council's West Craven Committee, said the lights were going out far too often.

On Tuesday, she will ask members of the committee to agree to request a meeting with CE Electricity, which supplies power to the area, hoping to force the firm to improve its supply.

She said: "As anyone who lives in West Craven knows, we have an awful lot of power cuts in Barnoldswick and Earby without any explanation of what has caused them.

"They are usually only for a few seconds, or a few minutes at the most, but we're getting more and more of them.

"It's very annoying because a lot of modern computer systems and ordinary household appliances have to be re-set after any break in the power.

"We are getting very fed up with it now and we are really pushing to get this resolved. We want to get round the table with them as soon as possible and talk about what can be done to improve things for the people living and working here."

A spokesman for CE Electricity said they would be happy to meet councillors to discuss the concerns.

The West Craven committee will meet on Tuesday at 7pm at the Rolls Royce Social Club, Skipton Road, Barnoldswick.