AN electricity supplier is investigating a power failure which blacked-out more than 1,500 Darlington homes.

North East Distribution Limited said a fault in a 60,000 volt underground cable was to blame for cutting off the power to homes in Yarm Road, Grange Road and Oakdene Avenue and surrounding areas.

The fault happened at 7.23pm on Wednesday but 150 residents were without power until 1pm yesterday after a second fault was detected.

About 1,000 homes had their electricity supply restored by 9.30pm the same evening and a further 350 homes were restored by a generator at 2.20am on Thursday.