Pub keeps firefighters hydrated after cables fire

Pub staff kept firefighters hydrated and energised with water and biscuits as they responded to a blaze outside the venue.

Crews attended a manhole cover at Kingsley Park Terrace in Northampton, earlier after a fire that was believed to have been caused by a fault with underground electricity cables.

National Grid said 242 properties were left without power.

A spokesperson for the Old Bank, an independent tavern, said they wanted to "look out" for the local community. They also said shops and businesses were affected by the incident.

Markie Prendiville, from The Old Bank pub, said he was woken just after 06:30 BST to the "sound of a blast".

He said: "Within moments the emergency services arrived and cordoned off the area. They kept us all informed and advised that it was just precautionary but there was no imminent threat.

"Several businesses were affected with the power outages, however, the pub had power. I contacted some of our more vulnerable and elderly customers to check that they were all OK and if they needed anything or wanted to come over to the pub to keep cool.

"I provided some cold refreshments and snacks to the emergency services and National Grid workers."

He said the fire service left the scene before midday.

The incident was reported to National Grid at 06:46 and it said it initially affected 130 properties.

At 12:47, National Grid confirmed it had managed to restore power to 242 properties across 18 postcodes.

A National Grid Electricity Distribution spokesperson said engineers were "on site restoring supplies following a power cut in the Northampton area caused by a fault on our underground network".

An investigation into the cause will be carried out once repair work has been completed, they added.

Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service was contacted for comment.

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