Turkey was off the menu after a Christmas party was stuffed by a power cut in Colchester.

Hotel apologies - Duncan Burdorf, sales manager for the Holiday Inn, said the power failure was beyond the control of the hotel. Picture: NICK OBANK (40194-1)

Revellers waited to get the party started for two hours at the Holiday Inn, Eight Ash Green. The 200 people were finally turned away at 9.30pm to fend for themselves with Chinese, Indian and McDonald's takeaways. The guests included 50 "livid" bus drivers and their spouses.

Robert Macgregor, managing director of Hedingham Omnibuses, slammed the evening as an "utter shambles".

Hotel manager Patrick O'Driscoll said Friday's 11-hour power cut looks set to cost the hotel £20,000. He has offered a refund to the mix of five companies and individuals who booked Christmas parties as well as a free event in January or February.

He said he pulled out all the stops to save the day and even ordered two generators from Oxford and Norwich to give power to the 110-bedroom hotel. He said: "Under the circumstances, we did the best we could."

Energy supplier EDF Energy has apologised to customers for two power cuts which struck in Colchester.

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Published Wednesday, December 22, 2004

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