Ilfracombe plunged into darkness

ILFRACOMBE was plunged into darkness twice this evening after lightning struck a major power network in the town.

Numerous lightning flashes were followed by loud booming thunder at about 7.30pm when the town blacked out twice within minutes.

Ilfracombe Rugby Club captain Leo Cooper was training with the team at Brimlands when the floodlights and clubhouse lights went out.

He said: "It was nuts. The weather was already pretty bad and we had noted the lightning a few times before.

"The lights went out once then came back on but the second time they were out for a bit longer so we retired back to the clubhouse."

Ilfracombe Subway manager Jimmy Mathews said: "Everything accept the battery powered till went out - the screen was my only source of light for a while."

A Western Power spokesman said: "The power to the entire town was cut at the Ilfracombe primary substation due to the storm.

"Lightning had hit the 33,000 volt network and the power automatically disconnected for about 10 seconds on each occasion.

"It is rare for a whole town to black out but power cuts like these are fairly routine. It is nothing to worry about."