A power failure brought disruption to a string of shops in Epsom town centre this morning.

Caffè Nero and Lloyds Pharmacy are among the shops reported a power failure after a fault occured shortly after 6am.

The power was restored at 10.33am and the electricity supplier, UK Power Networks, has apologised to residents and businesses affected.

Jessica Lapping, manager of Caffe Nero, said she arrived at work at 6.20am and realised there was no power when she went to turn on the lights.

She telephoned UK Power Networks, the electricity supplier, at about 6.35am.

The 26-year-old said: "It's happened three times in the last six months.

"We got our food delivery at midnight last night and now I'm going to have to throw away all our paninis, soups, sandwiches, milkshakes and fresh juices."

Beryl Thomas, retail sales manager at Lloyds Pharmacy, discovered the lack of power at 7.50am when she arrived at work.

Mrs Thomas said: "It's happened before but it's not that common. Maybe once or twice a year, possibly."

She said the shop would not be open until power was restored.

She added: "We've got no computers, it's dark in the dispensary so it's dangerous and of course all our labels need printing out.

"You can't see in there to right them by hand. There are no tills."

Tracy Cole, who works in TK Maxx across the road from the marketplace, said the power failure happens three or four times a year.

A UK Power Networks engineer arrived at the marketplace at 8.40am.

A spokesman for the company said: "At 6.40am today, May 7, 12 customers in the High Street area of Epsom experienced an interruption to their power supplies because of a fault on the low-voltage underground electricity distribution network.

"UK Power Networks engineers are working as quickly and as safely as possible to restore supplies.

"We appreciate how difficult it can be to lose power and would like to apologise for the inconvenience caused by this incident."

Later, the spokesman said: “I’m pleased to say that at 10.33am, all supplies were restored to the customers affected by the power interruption in High Street, Epsom.

“Again, we apologise for the inconvenience caused by this incident.”

Were you been affected? Leave a comment below, call the newsdesk on 020 8722 6346 or email hmatharu@london.newsquest.co.uk.