Hundreds of homes lose power after blast

There were around 30 diners evacuated from the upstairs restaurant Le Bistrot Pierre following the explosion, which happened at around 6.30pm on Friday.

Witnesses said the restaurant was plunged into darkness and its fire alarm went off, while CE Electric said 524 customers around Harrogate lost power after the blast.

Nobody was injured in the explosion but it was severe enough to blow off the inside door of the substation and an outside locked door, and damaged part of the restaurant cellar including stockpiled Christmas decorations and bottles of wine, beer and cider.

It is believed that the explosion could have been sparked by the freezing weather because the melting snow led to a build up of condensation in the substation.

Fire crews from Harrogate and Knaresborough attended the scene. A fire service spokesperson said: "We were called to a property in the town centre of Harrogate where there had been initial reports of an explosion. It was a fire in a basement electricity substation in a three-storey building comprising offices and a restaurant. The electrical fault affected electricity in the local area."

Le Bistrot Pierre was reopened to the public on Saturday afternoon.

Refunds were given to diners who were in the restaurant at the time of the explosion.