WITH power supplies still down in Bexleyheath's town centre, Bexley Council was accepting only emergency calls today (July 21).

However Dartford Council has a generator which is providing power to its Civic Centre in Home Gardens.

All the rest of its council buildings are without power unless they have a specific emergency power source.

Dartford Council landlines are working but some mobile networks appear to be unreliable.

Dartford says it has put mobile generators on standby at its sheltered housing complexes to provide elderly residents with hot drinks and boiled water and has arranged for 30 Red Cross volunteers to visit them.

Dartford has also issued food safety instructions for people:

Keep fridges and freezers closed wherever possible.

Use a thermometer to monitor the temperature.

Fridges must keep food below 8 degrees Centigrade by law.

Once frozen food has defrosted, use within 24 hours.

Cooked meats/fish, dairy products and other high risk products must be consumed or discarded within four hours of being above 8 degrees Centigrade.

Any food that is discarded should be well wrapped and placed in your normal refuse containers.

Defrosted food should not be re frozen.

Food safety messages are also being provided through Daerford Council's contact centre on 01322 343434.