A £700,000 investment to improve power supplies is underway in rural Herefordshire.

Western Power Distribution (WPD), the electricity distributor for the Midlands region, is making the improvements as part of a major initiative.

It involves replacing equipment in a substation in Bromyard which has reached the end of its working life.

A new room is also being constructed at the same site, within the existing grounds, to house new equipment which will help to further safeguard supply reliability to around 8,500 customers locally.

WPD’s investment is also designed to accommodate any increased demands placed on the power network in the future for additional developments.

Jane Rawlings, WPD’s Team Manager for the area, said: "It ensures that we can provide a high level of service to these areas in the long term by improving the infrastructure and security of our electricity network."

The project is due to be completed by the end of 2015.