Dunkirk spirit was shown last night by villagers and electoral staff at Bulkington when a probable lightning strike cut electricity to the village at about 1pm. 

Polling clerk Eileen Eggleton, from West Ashton Road, Trowbridge, said: “There was an almighty bang and then the electricity went off.”

Power was off until 10pm, ten minutes after the polling station at the village hall had closed.

Wiltshire Council kept the polling station open by installing an electric generator and local villagers provided the polling station team with a camping stove and hot water.

Turn-out in the polling station around 50 per cent.

Presiding officer Dianne Pirrie said: “It was slightly higher than usual. This was because people were coming round to see that we were all right and the pub was also without electric.”