A power cut has forced a village’s schools and village hall to shut.

Swanton Morley Primary School and pre-school Little Swans were forced to close their doors today (February 21) after a power cut in the village, near Dereham, at around 8.15am.

UK Power Network say they hoped to get the power back on between 2.30 and 3.30pm and Lisa Syer, from Little Swans, said they hope to be able to reopen tomorrow.

Ms Syer, who lives in Swanton Morley, said power had also been at her house all morning.

Parish council clerk Kelly Pickard said the caretaker of the village hall was on site when the power and heating went out around 8.15am.

She has the council had not received any emergency calls, but said they were on-hand to help anyone who has been affected.

“If anyone needs us they can reach me on Facebook message, I am logged on to the emails and the landline is connected to my mobile, and I will endeavour to help anyone who needs it.”

After speaking to a UK Power Networks, spokesman from the Swanton Morley Parish Council said: "There is an underground high voltage cable fault affecting the village.

"They cannot locate and fix this today. By way of a temporary measure they will this evening install generators for the village hall and school.

"The village hall will not be able to be used at full electrical load so we will be prioritising the opening of Little Swans Preschool. Other hirers will be informed in due course.

"We will know later if there is sufficient electrical capacity to open the school tomorrow. The school will advise parents."

The parish council can be contacted via email at parishcouncil@swantonmorley.org or you can call them on 01362 637166, or via its Facebook page, www.facebook.com/swantonmorleypc