Tram works blunder cuts power to 100 businesses

THE famous Balmoral clock has stopped after a power cut believed to have been caused by tram works.

Around 100 businesses were left without electricity this morning after a power line was damaged, thought to have been caused by contractors working on the long-running tram project.

The clock on top of the Balmoral Hotel on Princes Street is now stuck at 9am.

Scottish Power was first alerted to the problem in the city centre at around 9am.

The power company said the issue was resolved an hour later.

A spokeswoman said: “We apologise for the inconvenience but the fault was caused by another party working in the area.”

Properties affected included St Andrews House, the headquarters of the Scottish Government.

A spokeswoman for the Balmoral Hotel said electricity had returned to the building but the clock-face remains stuck at 9am.

She said: “The clock is stuck at the moment but we have contacted the engineers who deal with the clock and they hope to be here at some point today.”