Power cuts planned for the hottest day of the year in Reading have been postponed.

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) cut power to parts of Whitley for six hours today (Monday) while the town sweltered in 34 degree heat.

The company made a U-turn on further switch-offs in Calcot on Tuesday after being contacted by the Reading Chronicle.

A spokesperson for the company said: “Due to the current period of hot weather, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has taken the decision to postpone the works that would have required this short power interruption and will update customers on a new, proposed date for the works at the earliest opportunity.”

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Houses on Northumberland Avenue and Canterbury Road lost power from 9am to 3pm today.

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A letter seen by the Reading Chronicle stated power was due to be switched off during the same time period on Tuesday while SSEN engineers attempted to repair faulty underground cables.

The plans coincided with an extreme heat warning from the Met Office as temperatures were forecast to start at 28C at 9am, quickly rising to 33C by 10am and hitting 36C from 1pm to 5pm.

Temperatures have been so hot that wildfires have broken out near Reading and Sandhurst since Friday.