NEARLY 3,000 homes were this afternoon without power in Southampton after workmen damaged cabling.

The problem was first reported around 1.20pm when residents across the Bitterne area began calling Southern Electric to say they had no electricity.

It is thought that contractors working on Cobden Bridge have cut through cabling while carrying out repair work in the area.

Southern Electric have confirmed that at the height of the problem some 2,952 properties were affected.

However around 3pm power was restored to all but 89 homes.

Those affected now are properties in Vespasian Road.

Engineers are at the scene and are working to recover the supply but there is currently no estimate on how long that will take.

A spokeswoman for the company said it could be up to eight hours but that will only be known once the full extent of the damage has been investigated.