Power cuts hit Tayside and Stirling homes after storm

Some roads remain flooded after Thursday's storm

Thousands of households across Tayside and Stirling are without power after Scotland's worst storm in a decade.

Scottish Hydro said the two worst-hit areas were around Pitlochry and Aberfoyle.

Customers in Coupar Angus, Balbeggie, Callander, Lochearnhead and Calvine have also lost power to their homes.

Engineers hope to restore service to many areas by 14:00. The effects of Thursday's storm have also led to school and road closures in some areas.

At the storm's peak, about 150,000 homes across Scotland suffered from power cuts, with 48,000 currently affected - down from 70,000 earlier on Friday.

Scottish Hydro said engineers had been working since 06:00 on Friday. The company is also using four helicopters to patrol power lines.

There are about 70 faults in Tayside and 14,000 households without power. Earlier on Friday, 17,000 homes were cut off.

A Scottish Hydro spokesman said: "We're making progress and are very hopeful that the vast majority will be back on today."

However, the company has warned some customers in remoter areas may not have their electricity restored until Sunday.

The power cuts have led to the closure of 13 schools and nurseries in Stirling and five in Perth and Kinross. Auchterhouse Primary School in Angus is also closed because of power failure.

All schools in Dundee have been unaffected.

On the roads, Central Scotland Police said there was still flooding on the A84 between Lochearnhead and Callander and in Callander town centre itself.

However, the force said flood levels were now receding.

In Stirling, Baker Street is still closed between Friars Street and Bank Street because of fallen masonry.

Roof damage has also forced the closure of Russell Street in Falkirk, and there are problems on the A706 Bo'ness to Linlithgow road, with standing water on some parts of the road, as well as fallen branches.

Police said the road remained opened and was "passable with care".

No issues have been reported in Clackmannanshire.

Tayside Police said all major routes were open in the area, but problems remain on some minor roads.