PENSIONERS and families living next to a building site were left without light and heat last night after workmen cut through a power line to their homes.
People living near the Spectrum Leisure Complex, in Willington, had to manage without electricity for several hours because of the accident.
Labourers working on a new housing development damaged the underground cables at about 3.30pm.
Neighbours had to wait for power suppliers NEDL to send an engineer to repair the damage.
At least five of the properties affected were old people's bungalows, in Denewood Close.
Marlene Weatherald, whose 83-year-old mother, Marjorie Brown, lives in one of the bungalows, said: "It was awful - they already have to put up with disruption because of the building work but to go without power at this time of year is hard for older people."
A spokesperson for NEDL said: "The problem was caused by a third party and affected, at most, 33 customers."
The engineer hoped to have the damage - said to be more extensive than first thought - repaired by 11pm.
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