HUNDREDS of Hampshire householders were driven nuts when a squirrel caused a power cut.
The creature was dancing around on wires between two telegraph poles near Romsey when it sent an 11,000-volt shock through the system.
The short circuit knocked out power supply to 1,500 homes across North Baddesley for up to six hours.
The incident cut supply to homes in Highwood Lane, Crampmoor Lane, St Swithuns Close, Grovely Way, Winchester Road, Halterworth Lane and surrounding areas of Romsey.
Southern Electric spokesman Julian Reeves said: "The fault occurred at about 8.30am and affected about 1,500 customers in the North Baddesley area.
"Occasionally wildlife gets a little out of hand as it did in this case. Normally electricity overhead lines are perfectly safe because they're separated by air.
"But very occasionally you'll have a situation where a bird or a squirrel will bridge the gap between two parts of the lines and cause a short circuit."
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