HUNDREDS of residents were left without power for an evening after a car crashed into an electric pole.

The pole, in St John’s Road, Hadleigh, was knocked into a 45-degree angle following the crash shortly before 5pm on Tuesday evening.

Essex Fire and Rescue crews were rushed to the site amid fears the damaged electric cabling could spark a fire.

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Firefighters worked to ensure the site was safe before allowing UK Power Networks (UKPN) engineers on the scene.

“Half my road was without power as a result of the crash,” St James ward councillor Simon Hart.

“Luckily, my home was not one of those, but many of my neighbour were affected by it.”

He added: “I would like to thank the emergency services who I think did a fantastic and very speedy job responding to this incident.

“Most people got their power back quite quickly, considering the amount of damage that was done.”

More than 630 residents in three postcodes across Benfleet and Hadleigh lost power as a result of the crash.

Most homes had power returned by about 10pm on Tuesday, but four homes remained without power as of 4pm yesterday.

A spokesman for UKPN said: “UK Power Networks engineers are working hard to restore power as soon as safely possible to four customers without electricity in Benfleet. 

“This follows extensive and severe damage caused to electrical equipment from a road traffic accident on Tuesday.

“The four customers still without supply are served by a pole that was snapped during the incident. Our teams are on site providing support to those customers still impacted. We appreciate how difficult it is to be without power and apologise for the inconvenience caused.”

An Essex County Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “Firefighters were called to a road traffic collision on St Johns Road, Hadleigh at 4.58pm. 

“On arrival, crews reported a vehicle had collided with an electricity pole.”