POWER has been restored to hundreds of people in the Blandford area after fire fighters put out a blazing telegraph pole.

Electricity cables near the Old Ox Inn in Shillingstone were shut off at about 10.45am by electricity chiefs responding to pleas from Sturminster Newton's fire crews.

Powder exingusishers and the crew's longest ladder were used to extinguish the blaze, which fire fighters feared would spread along power lines.

A spokesman for Scottish and Southern Energy said 300 of 370 customers affected had power restored by 1pm, adding that she hoped normal service would be resumerd for all customers in the near future.