FAMILIES in South Hereford are calling for compensation and better service after a month of failing electricity and lack of information about repairs, writes JONATHAN RUSSELL.

Houses around Millard Close in Newtown Farm have been suffering up to four or five cuts a day since before New Year with little or no explanation from Herefordshire's electricity supplier Aquila.

The problems started in late December when unexplained black outs first hit the area, some families having to get ready for New Year's Eve festivities with friends and family in other parts of the city due to a power cut.

Resident of Millard Close, Sylvia McKenzie, said: "I am disgusted. We call the company but they all give us different answers we get no sense out of them at all.

"This morning they asked me how I pay the bill!"

The cuts, 19 last week ranging from just minutes to hours, have caused chaos, resetting electrical equipment and making computer work nerve racking.

A company spokesperson explained the problem was due to an intermittent fault at a sub-station affecting up to 50 customers.

The spokesperson said: "We do apologise and we are doing everything we can to straighten out this problem for them."

Under company rules customers can only claim compensation if a power cut lasts for more than 18 hours or four times in a year for more than three hours.