Watch more of our videos on Shots!
and live on Freeview channel 276

Dozens of people reported being jolted awake at 2am by a mystery ‘explosion’ and the wailing of alarms that followed.

The commotion was heard across Whittle-le-Woods and Clayton-le-Woods and some were even woken by the clamour in Wheelton and Buckshaw Village.

Startled, people climbed out of their beds to investigate. Peering out of windows they found street lights flickering and neighbours venturing to their cars to silence alarms.

In the morning, it was discovered that a power cut caused by a tree branch collapsing onto an overhead power line sparked a power surge across the local network

Seeking answers, they checked their local Facebook pages and discovered many in their neighbourhood were awake wondering what had happened.

Some even reported feeling a ‘shudder’ moments before everything went haywire and hundreds of homes across the area lost power.

What did people say?

Gillian Mather said: “I woke up and didn’t know why then heard a massive bang, then it was weird like a bright flash which just lit the blind up! Thought I was dreaming.”

Lola Wilkinson added: “Woke us up with three loud electrical-like explosions and two very bright flashes which lit up the room.”

Another startled resident, Kyle Andrew said: "Really strange! Everything shuddered, the power went off three times for us. And my phone wouldn’t connect to 4G or WiFi.”

"Street lights went off, followed by car alarms and some weird big flash then a few minutes later street lights came back on. Now all house alarms are going off,” added Holly Stead.

“Thought it was something paranormal,” said another, spooked by the mysterious goings on. “Our bed side lamps were turning themselves on and off, how strange.”

“My alarm went off and I was scared to death! Thought I was being burgled!,” said a worried Hazel Ingham.

Others suspected it might have been a sudden spell of heavy thunder and lightning.

Young man dies after entering lake at Yarrow Valley Country Park in Chorley

So what happened?

In the morning, it was discovered a tree branch had collapsed onto an overhead power line sparking a voltage spike that led to a power cut across the local network.

A spokesperson for Electricity North West said: “We received reports of a power cut in Whittle-le-Woods this morning at 2.02am affecting 315 properties after a tree branch fell onto an overhead power line.

“We responded immediately and using our automatic restoration systems, we were able to restore power to 287 properties in under three minutes.

“Engineers then carried out the necessary repair work and power was restored to remaining properties by 3.37am.”

'Explosive bangs' and 'flashes of light' wake residents in Whittle-le-Woods

What did people say?

So what happened?

In the morning, it was discovered a tree branch had collapsed onto an overhead power line sparking a voltage spike that led to a power cut across the local network.