It was a shock wake-up call to Britain. For almost 60 minutes, the capital was crippled by a blackout.

Trains, tubes and traffic lights across London were knocked for six as the capital was rendered literally powerless at the height of rush hour.

Commuters faced misery as they desperately tried to find a way home and many had to be evacuated and led to safety from trains stuck between underground stations.

It is estimated up to 150,000 people were affected by the unprecedented power failure, with delays and cancellations having a knock-on effect long into the evening.

London Mayor Ken Livingstone captured the desperation of the moment saying: "We've never faced a crisis like it."

Today The Argus tells a series of horror stories from Sussex people caught up in the chaos.

Whether a terrorist plot, an act of God or the more routine result of an overloaded National Grid, the message is clear.

We have become dependent on an antiquated power network which is fast becoming completely overloaded and unsuited to increasing demand.

Worryingly, it appears it only takes an electrical failure or a computer virus to bring our biggest institutions to their knees.