MORE than 9,000 homes in Essex were without power last night after high winds and driving rain swept across the county.EDF Energy said its engineers were working last night to restore electricity to 9,100 homes in Essex after the bad weather brought down power lines, with Chelmsford the worst-affected part of the county.

MORE than 9,000 homes in Essex were without power last night after high winds and driving rain swept across the county.

EDF Energy said its engineers were working last night to restore electricity to 9,100 homes in Essex after the bad weather brought down power lines, with Chelmsford the worst-affected part of the county.

The storms also left Essex County Cricket Club counting the coast after their Twenty20 Cup clash against Surrey in Chelmsford was washed out without a ball being bowled.

Although the club took out insurance against a match being rained off, the spin-offs from the match were not covered.

Chief executive David East said: “Our insurance policy only covered takings from the gate. Cash generated from programmes and profits from catering, the bar and club shop do not figure in the insurance.

“We were anticipating a capacity crowd approaching 7,000 and that would have netted us somewhere in the region of £10,000 in addition to the gate.”

East refused to reveal what sum the insurance cover would pay out, but it is

likely to be in the region of £50,000.

The high winds also brought down a tree in Low Road, Dovercourt, damaging a chalet and power lines at 4.30pm yesterday.