Xtra service crashes

Thousands of households were without internet services last night as the country's biggest internet service provider crashed.

Customers of Telecom's Xtra subsidiary reported the network down about 9pm.

By 9.50pm, a message on Xtra's helpline said technical difficulties might be preventing some customers from accessing or browsing the internet or using email services. The service was restored about 10.30pm.

Xtra has about 600,000 customers.