Jersey running on generators after power failure

Jersey is running on back-up generators after a major power failure overnight.

Chris Ambler, from Jersey Electricity, said connections with both submarine cables to France had been lost.

He said engineers had been working to restore supplies and find the cause of the power cut.

Mr Ambler said some off peak electricity and heating supplies were disabled after the power cut which affected thousands of islanders at about 23:30 BST.

"Supplies are rather tight in the island, we are bringing in more generation in order to fulfil that demand," he said.

"What we are saying to customers is just as a precautionary measure just to give us a little bit more headroom we have taken the decision to disable some of the off peak tariffs and off peak heating."