Around 2,500 homes and businesses were left without power after vandals attacked an electricity substation in north Belfast.

Equipment was damaged at the substation on the Ballygomartin Road due to a fire, which is believed to have been started deliberately.

Emergency teams from NIE Networks restored power to the majority of homes just after 1.30am and the final 200 properties had power restored at 7.30am.

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Kevin McDowell, Head of Health, Safety & Environment at NIE Networks, said: "Our priority is the safety of the general public and our employees. Vandals are risking their own and other peoples' lives by approaching substations substation and causing deliberate damage. There is live high voltage equipment inside, and interfering with it can be unforgiving.

"They are also causing great inconvenience to the local community who are left without electricity. We would urge anyone with information on this incident to contact the PSNI or if you see any further suspicious activity around electricity substations or electrical equipment contact us."

(CD/MH)