Around 1,500 local homes and businesses lost power on Easter Day. Now we know why.

SSEN says many people were affected across northern parts of Petersfield and up the old A3 towards Hill Brow.

The power company says communities in Ramshill, Tilmore, Sheet, Steep, Liss and Hill Brow were all cut off at exactly 8.35am.

At that moment many of us were preparing vegetables for the traditional family Easter roast and getting the goose grease up to temperature. Without electricity, the prospect of serving mini eggs for lunch was real.

Now, the power cut culprit has been identified.

Guilty as charged

A single squirrel shorted a circuit by climbing across the connections of a transformer off Tilmore Road in Petersfield. Unsurprisingly, the animal did not survive the shock from the 33kV three-phase supply.

Engineers save Easter

SSEN engineers managed to reconnect most customers within half an hour of the incident but the transformer had to be replaced. That job took all day with six engineers working on the infrastructure within Five Acres Farm.

As part of the work, the engineers have added these flexible grey squirrel insulators to the transformer terminals. They should ensure it’s not terminal for any flexible grey squirrels who decide to jump onto the transformer in future.

If you really want to see a picture of the fried squirrel we can help. Just click the link below but be warned – it’s not as tempting as any squirrel-based delicacy you’d see served in a fine dining restaurant.