TRADERS were left in the dark today after another power cut hit Crouch End Broadway. Mums with babies were forced to drink coffee in the dark in the Broadway and fish mongers at Walter Purkis and Sons had to serve customers without the lights on. The man

TRADERS were left in the dark today after another power cut hit Crouch End Broadway.

Mums with babies were forced to drink coffee in the dark in the Broadway and fish mongers at Walter Purkis and Sons had to serve customers without the lights on.

The manager John Purkis said: "Power is a vital part of our business and this is not the first time it has happened. It's an ongoing problem which needs sorting out.

"The flat upstairs still has power so we were able to use an extension lead to put our fridges, freezers and tills on.

"We've been able to trade but it doesn't help that we've got no lights because it looks like we're closed. It's quite a dark and miserable day."

Crouch End Lib Dem Councillor David Winskill said: "The enormous utility companies that we rely on to supply power do not seem to be investing in infrastructure and maintenance. It's outrageous that in 2009 we have had power cut after power cut."

There was another power cut in Crouch End Broadway between 8pm on Sunday and 2pm on Monday.

A spokesman for EDF Energy Networks said yesterday's power cut began at 5.28am and affected 22 properties in the Broadway.

He said that engineers had identified a fault that will require "extensive repairs" and that EDF was currently working out when it could carry out the work so that it caused as little disruption to customers as possible.