19 January 2007
Britain was battered by gale force winds yesterday, causing transport chaos, at least eleven deaths and leaving thousands without any electricity.
Gusts of up to 99mph brought down power lines across the country and while energy suppliers battle to repair the fallen cables, tens of thousands of consumers have been left with no way to cook food or heat their homes.
Over 140,000 homes were left without electricity as power lines were torn down across the north-east of England, Yorkshire, northern Lincolnshire, the Midlands, Cheshire and mid and north Wales, with a further 100,000 people in Godalming, Surrey left struggling to cope with the power loss last night.
A spokesman for Scottish Power told the Press Association that around 30,000 homes were without electricity in Cheshire and mid and north Wales due to the adverse weather.
"We've brought in all our linesmen and they have been put on stand-by until the winds die down and it is safe for them to work," said the spokesman.
"They will assess the damage once it is safe and find out what the damage is. At the moment we have over 300 faults identified."
"Engineers are also being brought down from Scotland to help. Some areas have already been brought back on, but our engineers will work through the night where they can," he added.
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