FAMILIES with young children incensed with power cuts were left in the dark again last night - for seven hours.

Residents on the Keepmoat Woodford Grange development claim they have endured around 12 electrical power failures since September.

Just two days after energy provider Energetics reassured residents that problems with a generator had been resolved, they had no lights, heat or power on Sunday.

Dad-of-three Carl Oldfield, 32, said: "Energetics told us that things had been put in place to stop the power cuts happening again.

"Yet it went off at 4.15pm yesterday and didn't come back on again until 11.30pm.

"The generator just can't cope with the demand."

Clare Louise Harrison said: "I live on the estate and it's been a nightmare. "I have an eight-week-old baby to care for and shouldn't have to leave my home for heating and hot water. The fact that the generator ran out of diesel at one point was absolutely disgusting, I just hope something's done before the weather gets really bad."

A spokesman for Energetics, the company which supplies the power to the estate, apologised.

He said: "We absolutely understand the frustration and concern of residents.

"The loss of supply last night was caused by an unexpected generator mechanical failure. We had engineers on site as soon as possible and stayed until the power was back on.

"We have now agreed to upgrade two much bigger generators tomorrow, Tuesday, which will double the capacity.

"As more residents are moving in, power supply demands increase. This will cater for that and will have extra capacity for street lights.

"We have also received written confirmation from Scottish Power that the estate will be connected to the mains supply on December 18 and 19.

"We are offering each resident an ex gratia payment of £75 to recognise the fact that they have had some inconvenience. This is being matched by Keepmoat who will be process the claims.

"We apologise to residents."

A spokesman for Keepmoat Homes said: "We are aware of the problems which residents of Woodford Grange have been experiencing and are in working closely with Cheshire West and Chester Council, Energetics and Scottish Power to finalise a solution to this problem and connect the affected homes to the new sub station.

"We apologise for the inconvenience and distress caused by this issue and will continue to work hard with our partners to remove the reliance on network generators and address the problem as quickly as possible."