SCAMMONDEN villagers won a victory over electricity distribution company YEDL - with a protest barbecue.
The residents of Camp Hill braved frost and freezing temperatures to barbecue bangers for breakfast in the path of power company workers.
Yorkshire Electricity Distribution Ltd wanted to re-route an overhead power cable carrying 11,000 volts because it was dangerously close to a new development on Quarry Field.
It warned residents five days beforehand that it wanted to cut off the power yesterday.
But furious residents want the power off during the week, when they are out at work.
YEDL refused, as it was more convenient for them to gather the large task force necessary to do the work on a Sunday.
So residents staged their barbecue blockade.
And when workers from YEDL turned out at 7.30am they found their path blocked by residents and their barbecue.
Mr Brian Lightowler, a Huddersfield teacher who led the protest, said: "Electricity is essential for basic amenities on our days off work.
"We should not be denied those simply for the convenience of YEDL and a builder.
"Most of us work during the week and a power cut then would be a minor irritation," added Mr Lightowler.
"We look forward to the company seeing sense and having a little more sympathy for its customers in the future."
A YEDL spokesman said: "The work was planned for November 23 to prevent affecting local businesses from being disadvantaged by having no electricity and for us to make available the specialist skills to perform the work in line with the progression of the building work.
"YEDL make every effort to take into account the needs of all its customers when planning the work," he added.
The company now plans to do the work later in the week.
