SOUTHERN Electric has now said 11,000 properties lost power at about 6.05pm today - ten times the number initially suggested.

The blackout which struck at about 6.05pm is affecting parts of Witney, North Leigh, Ducklington and Standlake.

A spokesman for the company said that 3,000 homes and businesses have had power restored after their supply was diverted by the company’s control room.

Engineers are now at the substation in Witney trying to turn the power back on and establish the cause of the failure.