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Thousands still without power in Northern Ireland Thousands still without power in Northern Ireland
(35 minutes later)
Emergency repair crews have worked into the night to try to restore electricity to thousands of homes still without power in Northern Ireland. Emergency repair crews have worked into the night, to try to restore electricity to thousands of homes still without power in Northern Ireland.
On Sunday morning, 13,000 customers were still cut off. On Sunday morning, 12,500 customers were still cut off.
A spokeswoman for Northern Ireland Electricity said the weather was improving but snow was still blocking roads, making conditions difficult.A spokeswoman for Northern Ireland Electricity said the weather was improving but snow was still blocking roads, making conditions difficult.
NI Water said about 500 homes still have problems with their water supply in south Antrim and west Belfast.NI Water said about 500 homes still have problems with their water supply in south Antrim and west Belfast.
The homes affected are mostly in Ballyclare and Hannahstown. The homes without water are mostly in Ballyclare and Hannahstown.
'Blizzards'
Electricity repair crews are being assisted by 140 staff from the Republic of Ireland and Scotland but NIE said it could be "several more days" before power is restored to all customers.
The situation has improved for many since Saturday morning, when 35,000 electricity customers were cut off and up to 1,000 homes were without water.The situation has improved for many since Saturday morning, when 35,000 electricity customers were cut off and up to 1,000 homes were without water.
Julia Carson, NIE's communications manager, said: "The weather does seem to be improving, wind speeds have dropped, but due to the extent of the damage across northern and eastern counties it may be a few days before customers are back on supply. Julia Carson, NIE's communications manager, said crews had worked through blizzards and high winds to carry out repairs.
"Some roads are still impassable, access has also been restricted because of drifting snow, and abandoned vehicles, they're also causing access problems for us," she said. She said a number of electricity poles had been broken and trees had fallen across power lines.
"The weather does seem to be improving, wind speeds have dropped, but due to the extent of the damage across northern and eastern counties it may be a few days before customers are back on supply," Ms Carson said.
Helicopter
"Some roads are still impassable, access has also been restricted because of drifting snow, and abandoned vehicles, they're also causing access problems for us."
Due to road conditions, NIE has been using a helicopter to identify damage to its power network in rural and exposed areas.
Ms Carson said NIE patrols would concentrate on areas around Torr Head, Mallusk, Dundrod, Stoneyford and Carr's Glen in County Antrim and Craigantlet in County Down on Sunday.
Ann McCaughan, who lives in Feystown, just outside Glenarm in County Antrim has been without power in her home since 11:00 GMT on Friday morning.
Church services
She told BBC Radio Ulster: "The roads are blocked totally so there's no way that the power people can even get out to do anything.
"We've no heat, it's the same with the gas, we're running out of gas, we've no bread, we've no milk. We're running out of all these type of things," Ms McCaughan said.
In some areas, Sunday church services have been affected by the weather.
Dundrod Presbyterian Church had closed because it has no electricity and the car park is "snowbound".
Services at Ballycraigy Congregational church in Newtownabbey have also been cancelled.