Emergency road works have closed a busy town centre road, and forced 25 buildings to go without power.

Diss Mercury: Emergency road works on St Nicholas Street in Diss. PHOTO: Sophie SmithEmergency road works on St Nicholas Street in Diss. PHOTO: Sophie Smith (Image: Archant)

Drivers are unable to access St Nicholas Street, in Diss, while UK Power Network search for a faulty underground cable that caused power cuts last night.

Planned works took place outside The Waterfront Inn on Mere Street yesterday, before more were added on St Nicholas Street.

A UK Power Networks spokesman said: 'Engineers are working as quickly and safely as possible to finish work in Mere Street and St Nicholas Street, Diss, as they locate and repair a fault with an underground cable which powers the local area.

Diss Mercury: Emergency road works on St Nicholas Street in Diss. PHOTO: Sophie SmithEmergency road works on St Nicholas Street in Diss. PHOTO: Sophie Smith (Image: Archant)

'St Nicholas Street has been closed while Mere Street remains open. We have turned off power to 25 customers so our engineers can work safely, and we apologise for the inconvenience caused.

'We have a permit to complete this essential work by Tuesday (October 16), but aim to clear the site sooner if at all possible.'

Sarah Carpenter, licensee of The Waterfront Inn, said: 'All day yesterday it was flickering in and out. We just have to try and continue as best as we can and still hopefully get people through the door.

Diss Mercury: Emergency road works on St Nicholas Street in Diss. PHOTO: Sophie SmithEmergency road works on St Nicholas Street in Diss. PHOTO: Sophie Smith (Image: Archant)

'The guys that are trying to sort it out are so nice, every time we had problems, the kitchen or the tills went down they came and fixed it, they were really good.

'We haven't had any power cuts today. It doesn't look good outside but we're still trading and they did give me fair warning.

'What they found was through doing here they found other faults at the top of the town.

Diss Mercury: Emergency road works on St Nicholas Street in Diss. PHOTO: Sophie SmithEmergency road works on St Nicholas Street in Diss. PHOTO: Sophie Smith (Image: Archant)

'On a positive note the board walk has reopened and it's amazing weather which will hopefully draw people in!'

UPDATE: As of around 2.30pm, 24 of the 25 houses have their power back.

Diss Mercury: Emergency road works on St Nicholas Street in Diss. PHOTO: Sophie SmithEmergency road works on St Nicholas Street in Diss. PHOTO: Sophie Smith (Image: Archant)