EXPLOSIONS and a major fire at an electrical sub-station yesterday sent flames and acrid black smoke over Madrid, and then foul-smelling, inky soot fell back to earth.

A small screw missing from a tool used to refuel a 35-year-old nuclear power plant led technicians on a fruitless two-day search and has delayed the facility from coming back on line.

London shares - feature movements at 10.00 am

Share prices extended their losses in late afternoon trade, dragged down by Wall Street, while Union Fenosa and Sogecable underperformed on debt and liquidity concerns, dealers said.