Could the UK face power blackouts this winter?

The government and the power regulator Ofgem have both warned that Britain will face power shortages in the coming winters.

Ofgem has said it expects the UK to have a very small margin of spare capacity this winter.

Speaking on the Today programme, National Grid chief executive Steve Holliday responded to the suggestion that some areas of the country may be left without power: "There are lots of tools available to us. We are being very prudent, very careful, but I'm confident that with these tools we will be able to balance supply and demand this winter."

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Wednesday 10 September.