Scores of residents were left without television last night for the second time in a week after a transmitter failed.

The mast at Patcham, Brighton, went dead at about 6.45pm, bringing viewing to an unexpected early end for local people.

The BBC switchboard was jammed with complaints from residents who suffered the same fault last Wednesday.

A BBC spokesman said engineers were investigating but residents said the transmitter had been failing frequently.

Joan Fairweather, of Thornhill Avenue, Patcham, said: "It has been off more than it's been on in the last year."