30,000 HOMES STILL WAITING FOR POWER

Fury at blackouts for families 6 days after storm

- JEREMY ARMSTRONG

AROUND 30,000 homes face a sixth day without power after Storm Arwen battered the UK.

It was feared some power cuts could last until Christmas following Friday night's devastating gales.

Labour's City of Durham MP Mary Kelly Foy said a number of locals faced up to a week without heating or power, branding it "a national scandal”.

With more snow forecast today, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng was pushed to ensure homes were reconnected before December 25.

Speaking in an emergency debate in Parliament yesterday, he said: "Being without power until Christmas is simply unacceptable.