AN explosion caused by a kite landing on an electricity substation caused power to be lost at 33,000 homes and businesses in Fareham and Gosport yesterday.

Firefighters and police from the two towns were inundated with reports of automatic fire and burglar alarms being set off in response to the power cut which hit dozens of schools and businesses.

The Solent Coastguard control room was also affected by the problem, which started at 7.01am and lasted six minutes. Southern Electric spokesman Julian Reeves said that metallic trailing from a kite reacted with equipment at the substation.

He said: "We would certainly warn people not to ever fly kites near to overhead power lines as it's potentially very dangerous."