WILTSHIRE has been named the fourth worst place for power cuts in the UK.

New data from Uswitch.com shows the county has 217 power outages per month, with the average duration coming in at 12 hours.

Norfolk is the worst-hit county in the country with 385 power outages and an average duration of more than a day (25.8 hours). Cornwall and Shropshire keep Wiltshire out of the top three, with Hampshire in fifth place.

Energy expert Sarah Broomfield, from Uswitch.com, said: “From being cold if without central heating in winter, to not being able to cook food for your family – if households are left without electricity for long periods of time, a series of problems can start to arise.

“That’s why it’s important to follow the tips from Uswitch – especially if you’re in one of the worst-affected areas – to make sure you’re fully prepared if a blackout were to affect your area.”

Ways the public can respond to a blackout include using a car to charge a mobile phone, turning off appliances such as a cooker or hair dryer in case the electricity comes back on unexpectedly and insulating food.