A huge power cut plunged Italy into darkness in the early hours of Sunday morning and cut short an all-night street party in the capital Rome, the country's civil protection agency said.

"The national grid told us an interruption of incoming power lines from abroad may have caused the blackout," a spokesman told Reuters. The whole country was affected by the blackout shortly after 3.30 am (0130 GMT).

It brought an early close to an all-night party in Rome, where shops, tourist sites and museums were meant to stay open until daybreak. Heavy rain had already stopped play at a number of attractions.

"We're not happy at all. Everything was fine until about 3.30am (0130 GMT). Then it all happened at once and now we're angry and wet," one sodden party-goer said.

The city of Rome organized the street party in conjunction with Paris, where a similar event is to take place next week.

The spokesman said it was impossible to say when the power would come back on. Trains were also left stranded nationwide.

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