Army carries food to Power cut victims... as Arctic blast is on way

SOME 10,500 homes remained without power yesterday a week after Storm Arwen battered Britain.

- Chris Riches

Regulator Ofgem has launched a probe into why energy firms are taking so long.

It came as weather forecasters predicted an Arctic blast this weekend, which will send temperatures plummeting to -5C and blanket parts of the country in snow.

In northern England and Scotland, the Army has been sent in to check on vulnerable people, hand out emergency food bags and examine power lines for damage.

Around 130 troops are going doorto-door in northeast Scotland, where 1,600 Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) customers have no supply.

South of the border, Durham County Council said 100 servicemen and women had been working from Weardale to help local people.

Challenging

Neighbouring Northumberland County Council has declared a major incident due to ongoing concerns for those without energy and water.

In Cumbria, about 6,000 Northern Powergrid and 1,700 Electricity North West customers have no power.