It seems that squirrels are getting even nuttier around Petersfield these days.

Last month we ran a story of a motorist bringing their erratic Volkswagen Golf to White Rose garage – and mechanics finding 200 acorns stuffed inside the vehicle’s air intake pipe.

But the rodents went to new heights to disrupt life on Easter Day with one of the little critters being blamed for a power cut that left hundreds in the dark.

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) have confirmed that a single squirrel was to blame for the incident that cut power to around 1,500 homes and businesses around the A3 corridor between Petersfield and Liss. The incident at 8.35am affected northern parts of the town along with Ramshill, Tilmore, Sheet, Steep, Hill Brown and areas of Liss.

The offending squirrel shorted a circuit by climbing across the connections of a transformer off Tilmore Road. The bushy-tailed bandit did not survive the shock of its encounter with its 33kV opponent but can possibly rest in peace, knowing its demise will lead to changes.

SSEN confirmed its engineers managed to connect most customers within half an hour of the incident, but the transformer needed replacing with six engineers working all day on the infrastructure within Five Acres Farm.

They also added flexible grey squirrel insulator terminals to the equipment just in case another one decides to leap onto the transformer.

Speaking of fires, Petersfield Town Council has urged people not to light barbeques on The Heath as a disposable one was the cause of a minor blaze on Tuesday, April 7, that was thankfully contained quickly.

Campfires and BBQs are prohibited at the beauty spot as fires can spread quickly and damage the habitat, one of the UK’s rarest.

(With thanks to Shine for additional reporting)