A KINGSBURY pensioner says a string of power cuts have turned his life “upside down”.

Bhupendra Gandhi, 72, needs a stair lift to move between floors in his Wimborne Drive home and has an oxygen tank to help him breathe.

But five electricity failures this month have switched off both machines making the upper floors of his house inaccessible and leaving him using the supplies of oxygen built up in the tank.

He said: “I cannot go up and down in the stair lift and there's no heating in the house, which means I have to go to bed with a hot water bottle.

“I can't use the computer. It's very frustrating. I'm worried and upset and my life's been turned upside down. I can't do anything.”

The latest power cut, which started today at 4am, is still ongoing. It affected nine properties initially with a further 19 losing power from 1.30pm while engineers got to work.

Jessica Gallagher, a spokesman for UK Power Networks, said: “Regrettably, today’s fault is linked to four other power interruptions in the street this month, for which we apologise.

“Sometimes when a fault occurs on a cable, heat caused by the fault can reseal the affected area which makes it more difficult to find and repair.

“The fault has now been located and it is hoped today’s repair work will resolve the problem.

“We realise how frustrating it can be to be without power and apologise to our customers for any inconvenience.”

She said Mr Gandhi has access to a priority service because of his health needs.

She said the company cannot guarantee his electricity will be restored any quicker, but staff will keep in contact with him.