replace electrical socket?

Hopefully you have switched off the supply to the circuit supplying the socket.
If not do it now.
If the socket is part of a RING circuit it will have two red or brown, two black or blue and two green/yellow sleeved wires.
EACH PAIR is connected separately to the socket terminals ie red/brown LIVE, black/blue NEUTRAL, and green/yellow EARTH

Temporary connection can be made using a junction box or equivalent but much simpler to fit a new socket now

The mounting box should also have a sleeved earth wire connecting it to the socket

Asanewt
February 2009