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High winds cut power to thousands High winds cut power to thousands
(about 1 hour later)
Thousands of homes in the West Midlands region are without electricity after high winds brought down power lines. Thousands of homes in the West Midlands had their electricity cut off when high winds brought down power lines.
Engineers from electricity firm Central Networks are dealing with nearly 100 separate incidents in the region. Engineers from electricity firm Central Networks were dealing with nearly 100 separate incidents in the region.
Gusts of up to 50mph (80km/h) brought down electricity poles and 12,000 properties were without power. Half had power restored by Sunday lunchtime. Gusts of 50mph (80km/h) brought down electricity poles and 12,000 homes were cut off. About 4,500 homes remained without power on Sunday afternoon.
The Met Office warned that more high winds were expected in the region during the afternoon.The Met Office warned that more high winds were expected in the region during the afternoon.
They are making progress but it is an incredibly big job Central Networks spokeswomanThey are making progress but it is an incredibly big job Central Networks spokeswoman
A spokeswoman for Central Networks, which provides electricity in the region, said: "We have had an incredibly nasty night of it.A spokeswoman for Central Networks, which provides electricity in the region, said: "We have had an incredibly nasty night of it.
"We have got engineers out there and they are doing what they can.""We have got engineers out there and they are doing what they can."
She said 37 overhead power lines had come down in the region with many more smaller incidents.She said 37 overhead power lines had come down in the region with many more smaller incidents.
Repair work was initially hampered as it was too dangerous for engineers to climb up to overhead lines.Repair work was initially hampered as it was too dangerous for engineers to climb up to overhead lines.
'A busy day''A busy day'
High winds spread up from the South West and are set to return later on Sunday, which could cause more problems.High winds spread up from the South West and are set to return later on Sunday, which could cause more problems.
The Central Networks spokeswoman said engineers were trying to switch some of those affected by cuts onto other parts of the network. The Central Networks spokeswoman said 235 homes remained affected in Stoke-on-Trent, 335 in Tipton, about 1,300 in Herefordshire and Worcestershire and a further 2,600 in Gloucestershire.
It was certainly a very wild night Met Office spokesmanIt was certainly a very wild night Met Office spokesman
"They are making progress but it is an incredibly big job.""They are making progress but it is an incredibly big job."
She said the firm could not make any promises about when power would be returned to all homes.She said the firm could not make any promises about when power would be returned to all homes.
"It is going to be a very busy day," she added.
Emergency services across the region also reported a busy night dealing with problems caused by fallen trees.Emergency services across the region also reported a busy night dealing with problems caused by fallen trees.
A spokesman for the Met Office said some gusts of winds had reached 50mph (80km/h) in the region.A spokesman for the Met Office said some gusts of winds had reached 50mph (80km/h) in the region.
"It was certainly a very wild night," he said, adding it "was not going to be a nice day" with rain and winds of up to 45mph (72km/h) in the afternoon."It was certainly a very wild night," he said, adding it "was not going to be a nice day" with rain and winds of up to 45mph (72km/h) in the afternoon.