A BUSINESSMAN says he has been left in the dark for two months after moving to new premises.

Despite making several attempts to get connected, Brian Hutchinson says he is still without electricity at his new site - a former council lighting depot.

High Grange Leisure, which stores and sells caravans, moved into the building near the Gretna Green pub, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, eight weeks ago.

Mr Hutchinson contacted electricity suppliers NEDL to arrange to be connected, but after being visited by engineers and filling out forms, he says he is still waiting.

He said: "I've had to buy a small generator to operate our fax machine and photocopier. It's not good enough."

The last time he was visited by an engineer he was told he had to carry out excavation work near the supply point, ready for connection, but that it would take three weeks for someone to come out.

He said: "I can't do anything about it - but I don't want to be messing about putting petrol in a generator for another three weeks."

A spokeswoman for NEDL said Mr Hutchinson could be connected within days if he carries out certain work.

She said: "There were numerous tasks - excavation work - Mr Hutchinson had to arrange or carry out on site.

"Until such time as he's done that work, we cannot programme it. We're waiting for him to come back to us to say the work has been done."