Businesses in the west of Oxford were counting the cost after a power cut left them without power for more than six hours yesterday.

About 200 customers in and around Hollybush Row, St Thomas Street and Oxpens Road were affected when the power went off at 2.25pm.

Traffic lights at Frideswide Square and Oxpens Road were also out of action until 7pm last night.

Supplies to businesses and residents were not restored until 8.30pm.

The Esso garage in Oxpens Road had to close.

Staff said they had been turning away customers all afternoon.

Shop assistant Malik Riaz said: "We have probably lost thousands of pounds because we can't sell any fuel or open the shop."

The Honey Pot pub in Hollybush Row also closed its doors, but the Chequers in St Thomas Street continued to serve customers.

Manager Marc McDonald said: "It went off at about half past two and we were thrown into turmoil because I couldn't open the till and had to generate a float from my own pocket.

"The beer is gas-operated so that is still nice and cold from the cellar, but my draught Coke and lemonade are off and the fridges are getting warm, although we do still have ice to keep the drinks cold.

"I have lost money, quite a bit. It could well be hundreds of pounds."

His brother, assistant manager David McDonald, 19, said the electricity company had not acted fast enough to solve the problem.

He said: "I am appalled. What I don't understand is why it is just a few streets all the other pubs round here are okay.

"We have lost out on a lot of customers and many of them have been quite irate because it is really hot in here without the air conditioning."

Many residents in St Thomas Street gave up waiting and by early evening, had decided to eat out or go to friends' houses.

Parveen Akthar, 22, said: "We have got a little baby so we are going round to someone else's.

"We have been ringing and ringing the electricity company and they keep saying that an engineer is coming but they haven't come.

"Now they are saying it is not going to be sorted out until later in the evening."

Elderly residents at Jackson Cole House retirement home in St Thomas Street were in an even worse position because, without the lift, many were unable to get to their flats.

Florence Johns, 95, said: "I can't get home unless I fly. It is annoying."

Friend Phyllis Martin, 75, was waiting with her in the living room.

She said: "We can't do anything. I would have been upstairs in my own flat, but I am worried about my friend."

Muriel Blandford, 89, was another resident stranded on the ground floor.

With all appliances in the home running on electricity, staff were forced to go to neighbours to boil water for cups of tea.

Julian Reeves, a spokesman for Southern Electric, said about 200 customers in the Park End Street and St Thomas Street areas of the city had been affected because of a fault on a low-voltage circuit.

He said: "The circuits are protected by fuses at a local sub-station and the fuses had blown."

Engineers had solved the problem by fixing a new fuse.