HOMES and businesses in Clitheroe were left without electricity last night after a bird flew into a power line and shorted the circuit.

Engineers were called about 9.15pm yesterday after the accident -- which left Rovers fans watching the match against Newcastle on TV anxiously waiting for power to come back on.

A spokesman for United Utilities said a bird flew into an overhead cable in Peel Street in the town centre, blacking out hundreds of homes.

He added that the electricity was restored for most of the affected areas within ten minutes and for the whole town within 30 minutes.

The spokesman said: "We are sorry for the inconvenience caused to anyone affected by this power cut which was caused by circumstances beyond our control, but we made every endeavour to re-establish the supply as quickly as possible." Matthew Rees, assistant manager of the Swan and Royal Hotel, Castle Street, said: "The power went off completely at just after 9pm when a lot of people were watching the football in the pub and it left people on the edges of their seats a bit.

"We missed most of the goals."