Hundreds of people in the Lewes area could be paid compensation following months of power cuts.

Infuriated residents have resorted to meetings in pubs by flickering open fires and many are keeping a camping stove and a stock of candles on standby.

Now many of the worst-hit in villages near Lewes have demanded compensation following the latest fault, which cut power to dozens of homes.

A spokesman for Seeboard said 189 residents in the villages of Rodmell and Southease lost their electricity supply due to a fault on a power line just after 5pm on Wednesday.

Power was restored within half an hour but following reports of low voltage the supply was switched off just after 8pm so repairs could be carried out. Customers were reconnected at 10.35pm.

Electricity to homes and businesses in the area has been cut off at least four times in the last three months.

Residents say the problem is getting worse.

Dave Moss, manager of the Abergavenny Arms pub in Rodmell, said: "At the moment it's a problem every few weeks.

"We have got an open fire and a lot of the villagers come in and sit here in the candlelight.

"They are constantly calling out engineers. Surely it would be cheaper in the long run to just fix the problem."

David Wilson, who works from home creating commercial web sites, is so worried about losing his work he is considering paying for an uninterruptable power supply.

"It will cost me £200 but there have been times when I have been two days late with important work.

"I have lived in and around Southease for 15 years and the problem is getting worse.

"There was one time when the power started going off every 15 minutes, then every few minutes.

"You can tell there are blips in the power because you often get home and the clocks have stopped.

"We would all love to know why it's happening. It would just be nice to hear the truth."

Electricity supplier Seeboard apologised for the problems and confirmed several power cuts since October.

Severe gale-force winds and fallen trees caused extensive disruption at the end of October.

On November 22, a connection on a circuit feeding Rodmell village failed.

On November 27, a fault on a 132,000 volt circuit broke the supply to Lewes primary substation.

The company confirmed it would pay compensation to customers who qualify but a spokesman said: "Companies do have the opportunity not to pay where the circumstances are beyond their control, such as the storms at the end of October."

Energywatch, the electricity watchdog, said: "We believe power companies should be lopping down trees which are likely to come down in a gale."