Storm Ali: Fight to reconnect final homes

Engineers are working to connect the last homes "as quickly as possible"

Engineers are working to reconnect the last homes in southern Scotland facing a third day without power due to Storm Ali.

SP Energy Networks said the number of properties affected was about 250 in the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway.

A spokesman said the work had required some "really complex and time consuming repairs".

He said most of the faults encountered had involved tree-cutting, replacement of broken poles and fallen power lines.

The company said that the situation had been complicated by some of the fault locations being difficult to access.

It said they would be looking to get supplies back online "as quickly as possible".

Catering trucks were put in place at Parkgate and Parton at one stage to offer hot food to those affected.

Bad weather and blocked roads have hampered efforts to restore supplies

SP Energy Networks said that about 65,000 customers had experienced some kind of power cut due to the high winds on Wednesday.

The vast majority have been reconnected but a small number were still without electricity on Friday afternoon.

Those affected have been offered a "range of assistance options" including generators and hot food.

SP Energy Networks said its engineers had been working in "very difficult" conditions and blocked roads and travel issues had also caused "additional difficulties".

"We will continue to work hard to reconnect customers as quickly as we can," the company said.

Hot food was being offered at Parkgate near Dumfries