RESIDENTS faced disruption to power in Launceston last week, after damage from a jackhammer left 558 business and domestic customers cut off on Thursday morning, August 31.

People took to social media to say the Lidl supermarket on Hurdon Road had no power and businesses at Launceston Retail Park were also said to be affected, after the power cut at around 8.30am.

A spokesperson for Western Power Distribution told the Post: “We had a fault which occurred after an unknown third party went through a high voltage cable with a jackhammer. It caused disruption to 558 business and domestic customers.

“We managed to reconnect all these in different phases.”

Engineers were then on site carrying out repair works throughout the afternoon.