NEARLY £1m is to be spent on improving the electricity supply to homes and businesses across the Meon Valley.

The overhaul comes after frequent power cuts lasting up to six hours have hit the villages of Meonstoke, Curdridge and Shedfield.

The problem has gone on for the last two years but now action is being taken after numerous complaints from residents to Southern Electric.

Planned improvements include:

A £700,000 sub station at Bishop's Waltham due to be completed by August.

A £120,000 programme to replace underground cables below the M27 at junction eight.

A £100,000 general upgrade which will see overhead lines insulated to stop short circuits.

Jennifer McGregor, company spokeswoman, said: "We recognise that the service has not been up to our usual standard and we would like to apologise. We are spending just under £1m across the area to make the electricity supply better.''

However, the timing of the works means that customers will only see the benefits in the autumn. Margaret Jones, who works at Meonstoke-based property company Grand Union, said she was pleased Southern Electric had set a definite time-scale to keep to.

Mrs Jones, who is also a member of Curdridge Parish Council said residents were told improvements would be made last year but nothing happened.

"When you cannot see an end to it, the problem seems to go on and on," she said.

"The last power cut in Meonstoke lasted between three and six hours. It's very disruptive when so many people run businesses from home."

Marianne Small, postmistress at Upper Curdridge Post Office said although the problem of power cuts was on-going they had become less frequent in recent months.

"There has been a lot of development around the Shedfield and Swanmore area. With developers digging up cables and trees falling down it's inevitable we are going to have problems in a rural area like this."

Winchester MP Mark Oaten said he was pleased Southern Electric was taking action but insisted the company should award compensation to residents affected by the power cuts: "The company should now consider forms of compensation for residents in the meantime."

However, compensation is only awarded where power cuts last longer than 18 hours.