Power cuts are making villagers feel they are living in the Dark Ages.

Families and businesses from North Chailey say they suffer up to three power cuts a month and many have had to rely on generators since Christmas.

Farmer Peter Barton said: "The situation is appalling and has been for years.

"We get on average two or three power cuts a month when the power is off for two to three hours at a time.

"It has nothing to do with floods or storms. It is down to a lack of maintenance and repairs.

"We have had electricity in the UK for more than 100 years, but Chailey has a Third World supply.

"We're living in a civilised country but Seeboard can't seem to maintain a power supply."

Residents have sent a petition to Seeboard protesting about the poor service.

Mr Barton, an organic poultry farmer who is leading the protest, said: "These cuts cause huge problems. We're plunged into darkness, computers crash and information is lost and some people have no heating.

"People are completely fed up with it. It happens so often that some people keep oil lamps and candles permanently out.

"Many households have been using generators since Christmas and the cost and inconvenience to homes and businesses is intolerable.

"On my farm the livestock suffers. The birds need to be kept warm and fed. Seeboard cannot be relied upon so we have our own generators. We often have to call staff out at night to help and pay them overtime. It costs thousands of pounds.

"If this kind of thing happened in Brighton or Eastbourne there would be absolute pandemonium. In rural areas they think they can get away with it."

A Seeboard spokesman said the company was aware of difficulties in the area but disputed the severity.

He said: "Our records do not support they are experiencing three or four power cuts a month."

However, he said Seeboard had almost completed a £425,000 network upgrading scheme north of Chailey, which affected 830 rural customers between Haywards Heath and Crowborough.

He said Seeboard had provided customers with generators to maintain supplies while part of the network was out of action.

"The project is among the final stages of the company's £7.4 million investment in network refurbishment," he said. "Seeboard continually analyses the performance of its power distribution system and each year targets the more vulnerable circuits."

But Mr Barton said: "We have already had four power cuts since Christmas. We don't want excuses - we want action."

The Seeboard spokesman said the company was committed to providing safe and reliable electricity supplies to its customers.