A power cut forced shops and businesses in Barnards Green to close early on Tuesday.

An underground cable fault left Pickersleigh Road and one side of Barnards Green Road without electricity from 1pm to 2.02am.

Chris Hunt, of Hunts Natural Choice, said he had to close the shop.

"We had no scales, no tills. We did stay open for a couple of hours but then we decided to close,"he said.

At Malvern Beauty Clinic, staff had to postpone about 15 appointments at the last minute. The clinic shut at 1pm, instead of its usual 9pm.

Gloria Knight, of Pet World, said they also closed early.

"Nobody was too happy about it, not when you're losing half a day's trade," she said.

Central Networks spokesman Jonathan Smith apologised to customers and said the fault had now been fixed.