An electricity pole in Chippenham was split in half when a car hit it yesterday afternoon.

Some households were without power for more than eight hours following the collision in King Alfred Street.

A spokesman for energy company SSE said: "A pole was split in two so we replaced this, which involved bringing down overhead lines and putting them back up with the new pole.

"Customers were taken off supply at 5.23pm and the majority had it restored at 6.44pm, with some back on as late as 2am. We apologise for any inconvenience caused to them."

Chippenham town councillor Robert Giles said: "It struck the lamppost with such force that it cracked like a match stick and hung there horizontally with high voltage cables dangling to the elements.

"That end of the street was still in darkness as I walked near to the scene on my way from a Chippenham Town Council meeting at about 9pm."

South Western Ambulance Service said they were called out at 4.18pm after a car hit an electricity pole. A 35-year-old woman was treated at the scene for a minor arm injury.