Hundreds lose power as smoke pours from pavement

Smoke came from the pavement during a power cut in central Bristol

More than 1,500 properties lost power after smoke poured from a pavement in Bristol.

The incident happened at the bottom of Whiteladies Road in Clifton.

Among the properties that have lost power are the BBC Points West, BBC Radio Bristol and BBC West offices based on the road.

National Grid said the power cut was likely to last until 18:00 BST, saying a "fault on our underground network" was to blame.

"We are responding to a power cut in central Bristol affecting 1,500 properties that was reported to us at 4.22pm," the statement said.

"There has been a fault on our high voltage underground network which engineers are investigating.

"We apologise for any inconvenience that's being caused and aim to get supplies reconnected by 18:00."

An Avon Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said crews found and extinguished a fire "under the manhole cover which we believed to be connected to electric cables" at about 16:00 BST.

The fire service said it believed the fire was connected "to the power infrastructure in the area".

It added crews were called to a separate report of black smoke and flames in the same area at 17:09 BST.

Kathryn Johnson, of the Royal West of England Academy, says the situation is "heartbreaking"

The Royal West of England Academy (RWA) said it had to cancel a private viewing of one of its biggest exhibition of the year.

Kathryn Johnson, head of exhibitions at the RWA, said the incident was a "major electrical fire".

"We've had to evacuate the building, it's heartbreaking. There are artists who have come from all over the country to see their work in the show tonight."

She added she hoped the building would reopen on Saturday.

"Anxious, of course. There's a lot at stake here," she said.

"We're confident everybody is safe. I'm concerned about artworks in the building as well but there's more here at stake."