By Morwenna Blake

MOLLY and Frank Kenny feel they are lucky to be alive after an 11,000 volt electricity cable came down on their drive minutes before they arrived home.

It is the second time in months that the Kennys, who live in Heywood, near Westbury, have had a near miss from the cables outside their home.

In August they were watching television when they heard a huge bang as a cable smashed into their new Honda Civic car which was parked on their driveway.

The car was written off and the Kennys left shaken and nervous.

Their only comfort was the thought that such a freak accident could not happen again.

Then, last Friday, they returned from Frome market, where Mr Kenny is a trader, to find another cable had come down.

Mrs Kenny said: "I was 10 minutes away this time. The first time I was about to go out and close the car window. It's too close for comfort. I'd only just got my confidence back after the last time. Now I'm a nervous wreck."

Residents in Heywood, Yarnbrook, Hawkeridge, West Ashton and part of Westbury were without electricity for eight hours while engineers made repairs.

Mr and Mrs Kenny have been in touch with Goughs Solicitors in Trowbridge, who negotiated compensation from Southern Electric after the last incident.

Chris McGrail, from Goughs, said: "We're hoping to try and get the situation permanently redressed this time."

In August, Southern Electric spokesman Bob Major said it was very rare for electricity cables to snap and a full investigation was held. It was found a fault on the line was responsible. Early investigations into last Friday's incident suggest it was caused by a lightning strike, possibly at another point on the network.

Andrew Livingstone, from Southern Electric, said: "We're obviously surprised it has happened again. We've carried out all the repairs. "

Southern Electric are now considering an underground cable as an alternative to the pole outside the Kenny's home.