MORE than 30 businesses have been plunged into darkness, after their landlord went into dispute with an electricity company.

The power was cut to all units at Aintree’s Box Works Industrial Estate, on Tuesday, without warning to the individual businesses.

They are now facing losses of thousands of pounds each day, with no promise of when power will be restored.

Ken Woods, owner and training services director of Hybrid Technical Services, said the situation was an “absolute disgrace”.

Hybrid is a gas and electricity training centre and students’ exams have been thrown into chaos with the loss of power.

Mr Woods said: “It’s absolutely disgraceful, we’ve all paid for our electricity, paid all our bills and now we’re being punished.

“We had 14 students in yesterday and had to send them home and since then we’ve had to pay more than £1,000 to hire a hotel so they can continue their studies.

“Every day is costing our business thousands, and we can’t even answer the phone or check our emails.

“It’s a waiting game now but we could be left like this for weeks.”