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| Leicester substation fire leaves thousands without power | Leicester substation fire leaves thousands without power |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A fire at a high voltage electrical substation has left 45,000 properties in Leicester without power. | A fire at a high voltage electrical substation has left 45,000 properties in Leicester without power. |
| The blaze at the substation in Ravensbridge Drive began at about 10:45 GMT forcing businesses to be evacuated and road closures. | |
| Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service has advised people in the vicinity and surrounding areas to keep windows and doors closed. | Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service has advised people in the vicinity and surrounding areas to keep windows and doors closed. |
| Western Power Distribution said it hopes to restore all supplies soon. | Western Power Distribution said it hopes to restore all supplies soon. |
| Live: Fire at electrical substation | |
| BBC reporter Andy Twigg at the scene | BBC reporter Andy Twigg at the scene |
| The flames are about 20 metres high and a huge plume of smoke is billowing east over the A6. | The flames are about 20 metres high and a huge plume of smoke is billowing east over the A6. |
| I spoke to a man who saw the fire start, he said there wasn't so much of an explosion, more a series of pops. | I spoke to a man who saw the fire start, he said there wasn't so much of an explosion, more a series of pops. |
| You can hear what sounds like glass smashing within the fire and the heat of the flames can be felt from a great distance away. | You can hear what sounds like glass smashing within the fire and the heat of the flames can be felt from a great distance away. |
| A police cordon has been set up and Western Power engineers are on scene. | A police cordon has been set up and Western Power engineers are on scene. |
| The fire affected power supplies in the LE3, LE4, LE7 and surrounding areas including Groby, Glenfield and Birstall. | |
| Retailers on the A6 including Halfords, Carpet Right and The Range have been forced to close for the day. | |
| Bethany Poppy Lola tweeted: "All traffic lights out near Glenfield Hospital. | Bethany Poppy Lola tweeted: "All traffic lights out near Glenfield Hospital. |
| "House alarms going off everywhere here and no power in the house - having to boil water in a pan." | "House alarms going off everywhere here and no power in the house - having to boil water in a pan." |
| Leicester City Council tweeted that Beaumont Leys Library had been evacuated. | Leicester City Council tweeted that Beaumont Leys Library had been evacuated. |
| The fire service said about 8,800 litres of oil has been "allowed to burn off" at the site. | The fire service said about 8,800 litres of oil has been "allowed to burn off" at the site. |