Power has been cut to over 600 Christchurch properties tonight.

Orion Energy said residents in Belfast, Brooklands, Chaneys, Marshland, Ouruhia, Papanui, Redwood, and Spencerville are affected.

Power was cut at 8:39 pm affecting 649 properties.

Orion Energy said field crews were trying to find the fault and at this stage the cause is unknown.

It hoped to have power restored by just after 11PM.