TVs explode in power surge

TELEVISIONS burst into flames and other electrical appliances overheated as a power surge hit hundreds of homes.

One man was injured and 23 minor fires broke out after nearly twice the normal voltage was sent through the mains.

Firefighters were called to a number of incidents in the Archway Road area of Highgate and police had to isolate the eight-road block.

A 67-year-old man was admitted to hospital for smoke inhalation after his TV caught fire. The surge was blamed on a faulty substation fuse box.

Michael Nabavian, 29, of Talbot Road, said: "I was woken by the sound of my bathroom fan, which had turned on, as had the bathroom light. It was making a strange noise and I could smell burning plastic.

"I tried to turn them off but nothing seemed able to stop it.

Smoke was billowing from my DVD player. It was terrifying."

Electricity company EDF disconnected power supplies as fire engines put out a series of small blazes.

A fire brigade spokesman said: "Calls seemed to flood in one after the other. It was unlike anything we had experienced."

EDF apologised and said engineers were contacting householders to check equipment and repair any damage.

It said residents had complained of flickering lights last week but inspections had revealed no problems.

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