EASTLEIGH shopkeepers preparing for a busy Saturday found themselves without electricity after the third powercut in a week.

Around 20 properties in Market Street in the town centre were left in the dark from 7am after damage to an underground cable caused a fuse to blow.

Southern Electric engineers worked throughout the morning to fit a new device that will automatically switch the power back on when the electricity in that area cuts out in future.

But a spokesman said that the problem is caused by a damaged sheath on the electric cable and has been heightened due to seeping water in the wet weather. Eventually a proper repair will have to be carried out.

Julian Reeve of Southern Electric said: "We can't carry out a repair until we have located the exact spot where the cable is damaged. But the 're-zap' device being fitted will ensure that when the power cuts again due to the fault, it will be switched back on like a trip-switch after just a few minutes, rather than customers having to wait hours. It will also speed up the time in which the cable fault can be identified."