A planning committee meeting at Tendring District Council had to be abandoned last night after a power cut left the event in almost total darkness.

Councillors were still considering the first item on the agenda when the electricity went out at the council’s Weeley offices just after 7pm.

Chairman John White waited 15 minutes to see if the power would come back, but was forced to abruptly end the meeting when the lights stayed off.

He said: “The rest of Weeley is in darkness and it is obvious that we will not be getting the mains power back anytime soon.

“I have taken the formal decision that we will meet again back in the chamber at 6pm on Thursday (November 19) to conclude the business.”

There were around 80 councillors, officers, applicants and members of the public at the meeting.

They had listened to the presentations and speakers for outline plans to put up to 240 homes, a 40-bed care home or healthcare facility and other facilities on land to the east of Halstead Road, Kirby Cross.

When the committee resumes tomorrow members will make a decision on the application which is recommended for approval by officers.

They will also decide on six other applications on the agenda.