Power cuts have hit hundreds of Wigan homes for the fourth time in a week.
United Utilities has apologised to residents in 880 properties across Bickershaw and Hindley that the problems are beyond their control – and warned there may be more to follow.
In the first blackout, vandals climbed 30ft to saw through overhead c
ables carrying 11,000 volts of electricity in a bid to steal metal for scrap. But their attempt, on a pylon next to Hindley Prison a week last Monday, failed.
The past three instances – Thursday, Saturday and Monday night – the cuts were blamed on an "intermittent fault".
Engineers cannot trace the problem straightaway as it fixes itself, only to falter a few hours later.
United Utilities spokeswoman Helen Wilson described it as "an unusual type of electrical fault which is developing very slowly."
She added: "Until the fault develops fully it is impossible for our engineers to pinpoint, and power will go off intermittently. We will make a permanent repair as soon as we possibly can and we thank residents for their patience in the meantime."
Anyone with information should contact Wigan CID on 0161 856 5307 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.The full article contains 201 words and appears in Wigan Evening Post newspaper.
