Shops, businesses and banks have been left in the dark this morning as a power cut affected the town centre.

Power firm SSE said they expected power to start returning at around 10.30am and that the power had gone down at around 7.30am. 

An emergency generator was being brought into Marks and Spencers to get bussinesses up and running until the reason for the power cut could be found.

The cut affected Barclays in Broad Street where staff were waiting outside the building to be let in.

A spokesman for Barclays said: "The Broad Street Branch in Reading was closed until 10.30am due to a power cut but is now fully open. We apologise to customers for inconvenience caused."

The bank had also suffered a small leak in their toilet area. 

Marks and Spencers were unable to open their doors as they could not to operate all tills, the central escalator or provide lighting in the store.

A notice placed on one of the customers doors in Broad Street said: "Due to a major power cut and problems with the substation our normal operating standards have been affected beyond our control.

"Our lifts and escalators are without power and although our tills are working they maybe slower.

"We will have staff able to direct and assist but we are unable to open our cafe on the first floor and our hot foods on the ground floor.

"We would like to thank you for you patience and please rest assured that we are doing everything in our control to retify and ease the situation. Thank you."

Cath Kitson was allowing customers in its store but only had one till working.

A spokesman for power company SSE said: "The power cut is affecting the Broad Street area in Reading.

"We are looking to install a mass generator in the town which should hae the power up and running by 10.30am. 

"But this will be on a temporary basis while we would to establish the cause of the power cut."