Homes in Malvern were evacuated when a broken high- voltage cable sent fireballs flying through the air.

The incident happened after several hours of rain and an electricity company spokesman has not ruled out a link between the weather and the breakdown.

Resident in Pickersleigh Road called the firefighters after sparks and flames were seen spitting out of a verge south of the junction with Pickersleigh Avenue at about 11pm last Thursday (December 8).

Station officer Chris Blake said: "There was initially some confusion as to whether this was a gas or electricity incident, so we called out both lots to be on the safe side. We also evacuated some 15 houses on both sides of the road because of the risk of an explosion.

"There were fireballs leaping up in the air and the vapour from the burning caused us to suspect gas might be involved.

"Just as the fire crew got there, a tongue of flame leaped out of the verge towards a car driving past. The driver just kept going. He must have been in shock. It was surreal to watch."

Residents were taken to the nearby county council home, Howbury House in Pickersleigh Grove, and an ambulance was called to provide transport for one elderly man. Diversion were put up to keep traffic away from the affected area.

Engineers from GPU Power UK (formerly Midlands Electricity) brought the situation under control and residents were allowed home at about 1am.

Michelle O'Keefe said the fault was centred on an underground 11,000 volt cable and may have been caused by the bad weather.

Earlier in the evening, some 3,000 homes and businesses in central Malvern and the Wells were affected by a power cut which started at about 9.40pm and continued for over an hour.