Two weekly newspapers were delayed by up to 24 hours this week after a power cut hit their printing press.

Newsquest titles the Oxford Times and the Wiltshire Gazette and Herald were a day late hitting the streets after a power cut in Oxford on Wednesday evening affected their printing press in the city.

The Oxford Times told readers this week’s edition would be 24 hours later in arriving in shops and being delivered to homes.

And some editions of the Gazette and Herald had also not arrived in newsagents yesterday.

There were two power cuts in Oxford on Wednesday evening, one lasting nearly six hours, which affected more than 3,000 homes and forced comedian Josh Widdicombe to cancel a show at the Oxford Playhouse.

The delayed edition of the Oxford Times.

Oxford group editor Simon O’Neill tweeted yesterday: “Today’s Oxford Times is a thing of beauty, but may be late in some parts after a power cut hit our press last night.”

He said there was no impact on sister daily the Oxford Mail.

The Oxford Times told its readers: “The newspaper will be available in shops and will be delivered to homes 24 hours later than usual.

“We would like to apologise to our readers and customers for the delay.

“The power cut hit about 3,000 properties in central and west Oxford last night, with electricity restored to the last of those affected at about midnight.”

At the Gazette and Herald, group editor Gary Lawrence told readers yesterday: “Owing to printing problems on our Oxford press last night caused by a power cut, some editions of the Gazette, most notably in Chippenham, have not reached newsagents today.

“We will be in the shops tomorrow morning though. We apologise to our readers for this delay, which was caused by circumstances beyond our control.”