But debris from the blast struck the electricity pylon which caught fire leaving 40,000 homes without power.

In the hours between civilisation there were vast plains of wheat, sheep, and the odd electricity pylon.

Other proposals include lower property costs for masts - some sites cost 20,000 a year compared with 150 for an electricity pylon - and less bureaucracy.

There was more excitement the next day when a huge electricity pylon fell down just outside the house.

One sees a little yellowish-buff bird slipping through the foliage, or out on a corrugated iron roof or electricity pylon where spiders have set up their webs.