BT contractors knocked out power to more than 200 homes in Middlewich after striking an 11,000 volt cable.

Workers accidently cut through the cable while installing a new cabinet in Warmingham Lane but fortunately no one was injured.

It is understood that the person who hit the cable was not hurt as he was using a rubber mallet at the time.

But the impact caused power to switch off at the substation in Cledford Lane two miles away, last Tuesday.

Kevin Doherty, of Warmingham Lane, said: “We heard the bang but our power didn’t go out as we’re not connected to that substation.

“It was really dangerous. If you got that wrong it’d be the last thing you ever do.

“Car after car appeared - BT appeared, Scottish Power Manweb appeared. They were planning what needed to happen, there were frantic phone calls.”

A spokesman for Scottish Power Manweb said the company responded to reports of damage to a high voltage cable at 3.30pm and power was restored by 4.45pm.

“We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused,” she added.

The cabinet that BT was installing was to provide faster Internet access, which Mr Doherty was looking forward to as he works in IT from home.

But instead he had to put up with the power company digging a hole five metres long and two metres deep in his garden to install a new cable.

Mr Doherty, 31, added: “I understand these things happen but its given me a newfound appreciation of health and safety laws.

“You have all these ideas for your garden then all of a sudden a piece of machinery is digging it up for you so you don’t have much of a choice.

“With all the other work going on in Middlewich with gas and water I’m surprised it’s taken this long for something to go wrong.”

The power cut affected several businesses, including the Ideal Standard factory in Booth Lane.

Spokesman Paul Bayley added: “Luckily it didn’t affect us at a critical time in the process. We were hand finishing the clay pieces for the bathrooms.

“We noticed the quietness - the hum of the machines went down. But there were no problems, no evacuation. We carried on as normal.”

A spokesman for BT said: “I can confirm there was an incident. We are still investigating what happened, but I understand no one was hurt.”

Clr Simon McGrory, of Middlewich Town Council, added: “United Utilities, National Grid and BT are all working in the same area and I’m not surprised they’ve cut the wrong cable.

“There’s so many holes being dug up at the moment. It’ll be nice when it’s all finished and they can leave us to it.”