POWER TO THE PEOPLE

Swinney tells of 'colossal task' reconnecting homes as 15,000 remain cut off after gales | First Minister says severe weather shows climate change is clear and present danger

- ANDREW QUINN

ALMOST 15,000 Scots homes are still cut off as the repair job was yesterday described as a "colossal task".

And First Minister John Swinney said the severe effects of Storm Eowyn shows that climate change is with us.

Tens of thousands of homes were left without power after the storm hit on Friday with 15,000 homes still cut off yesterday.

Gusts hit 100mph as high winds claimed one life and caused widespread damage, disrupting travel and hitting property.

Speaking at an event in Edinburgh, John Swinney said: "It's a warning to us that climate change is with us and the ferocity of it."

Addressing the power cuts, he said: "The scale of the challenge has been colossal, utterly colossal. The number that have been reconnected is in excess of 180,000 since Friday evening.

"I have been engaged with the resilience community and the power companies all weekend and I'm satisfied that there has been a huge mobilisation of resource to try to address this issue."

He said the situation is now more "diffuse" than over the weekend, with those without power living in more rural areas.