Hundreds of homes in Swindon were left with out a digital television signal last night after the Oxford transmitter was put out of action because of a fire at 2.20pm yesterday.

Spokesman Bruce Randall said: "We have got to check the structural safety before we can do anything.

"We would like to apologise, but these are highly unusual, difficult circumstances and we would like for people to bear with us. The transmitter serves 400,000 homes.