THE massive disruption to electricity supplies caused by last October's storms could return unless electricity company Aquila are allowed to perform maintenance work on private property, Hereford MP Paul Keetch has warned.

Many of last year's problems, which were particularly acute in the Whitchurch and Doward area, were caused by high-winds uprooting trees that had grown too close to electricity cables.

But, according to Mr Keetch, the progress of maintenance work is being slowed by private landowners refusing to let Aquila cut back trees on their land. The company has legal powers to take landowners to a tribunal to force them to grant access, but the MP said that he hoped this would not be necessary.