RESIDENTS spent nearly 12 hours without electricity after an underground explosion tore through power cables yesterday.

People living in Warwick Avenue, Moorside, near Consett, were woken by the sound of an underground blast. A shower of sparks and thick smoke came from a manhole.

The fire brigade's special incident unit was called out, but it soon emerged it was caused by an electricity cable which had shorted out.

Firefighters stood by in case they were needed by Northern Electric workers, who tended to the wiring problem.

Residents spent much of yesterday without power, with electricity restored by mid-afternoon.

A spokesman for County Durham and Darlington Fire Brigade said: "We initially thought it might have been a major incident, but in the end it wasn't much.

"People have been inconvenienced by the loss of power, but when we heard about an explosion and toxic fumes we feared much worse.

"We were there in case we were needed, because it could have been a real fire hazard."

Derwentside District Council's 24 hour careline received calls from concerned elderly residents in Warwick Avenue.

A council spokesman said: "We got one call saying they could see smoke coming out of the manhole. When we get calls like this we are naturally concerned, especially as it's mainly the elderly or vulnerable people who phone us.