TRAFFIC lights were out, shops unable to open, and residents made to rely on candles as a power cut left thousands without electricity for three days.

Police say vandals or thieves could have been behind the fire that caused the power cut, after high voltage cables were badly damaged on a bridge by the Riverside Industrial Estate in Dartford.

EDF Energy Networks, who had engineers working round the clock to set up generators and repair cables, are discussing possible compensation payments to those affected with energy watchdog Ofgem.

It was not all bad news however, as tolls on the Dartford Crossing were temporarily suspended to keep traffic flowing smoothly and reduce the risks of accidents.

But businesses in Dartford town centre had a “nightmare”, losing thousands of pounds in takings.

Owner of the Wimpy and the Orchard Cafe in Dartford High Street, Rukiye Zorlu, said: “At the Wimpy, we’ve lost about £4,000 in stock, and about £6,000 in earnings.

“And at the Orchard, we’ve lost £500 in stock and about £2,000 in earnings.

“We’ve got to reorder new stock, are we going to get any help or compensation?”

Director of Cash Converters in Dartford High Street, Tony Saunders, says they lost £4,000 on sales alone.

He said: “We’ve lost money hand over fist.

“We’ve lost business on all our three sections, sales, pawn broking and cheque cashing.

“It has been a nightmare.”

Responding to calls for people to be compensated, a spokeswoman for EDF said: “In this case, the issue is complicated by the fact that this is an exceptional event and that police are investigating the possibility that the incident was started by unauthorised people interfering with the cables.”

Police say they have checked with hospitals for anyone admitted with burns and are appealing for any witnesses after the fire on July 20.

Anyone with any information should call Kent police on 01474 366091 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Read our extensive coverage of the power cut here.