Families and businesses in villages north of Great Yarmouth have been given an assurance over power cuts following a meeting between their MP Brandon Lewis and electricity supplier UK Power Networks.

Following the meeting yesterday, Mr Lewis will be writing to concerned villagers who contacted him after a power cut lasting up to 15 hours in Ormesby earlier this month.

He said: 'The latest power cut followed one in Winterton earlier this year which affected 30 homes for 17 hours; there were also similar issues about 18 months ago.'

He said UK Power Networks officials had told him there was an ongoing issue of tree branches damaging overhead lines and they had plans in place to trim trees ahead of possible gales in the autumn and winter.

However, the main problem in Ormesby - which affected about 700 people - had been a fault with an underground cable.

Emergency generators had been brought in but they had proved less reliable,

He said: 'Repairs have now been carried out and I have been told there should be no further problems.'

Mr Lewis said he would be writing to all residents who had contacted him, giving them details of his meeting, and providing them with a UK Power Networks telephone number to contact in case of further problems.