Weather causes transport chaos in North

Blizzards, gale force winds and torrential rain have hit power supplies and caused transport chaos in the North.

Around 300 people – including children on a school bus – had to be rescued from vehicles trapped in snow overnight on the Glenshane Pass near Derry.

Police, mountain rescue and coastguards were drafted in for the operation.

Britain's Met Office has issued extreme weather warnings for the North, forecasting more severe blizzards and severe drifting snow up to 50cm (20in) deep in parts.

Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) said between 45,000 and 48,000 customers, mainly in the west and the north, have been cut off overnight after widespread damage to its network.

At one point there were 600 individual faults reported, the firm said, with the biggest disruption was in Omagh, Enniskillen, Dungannon, Derry, Coleraine and Ballymena.

Poor visibility and strong winds were preventing workers from climbing poles, it added.

A spokesman for NIE said 450 engineers and workers were out helping restore supplies as soon as possible – and blamed the disruption on “unprecedented” weather.

“We have had unprecedented weather conditions, and are working to get people reconnected as soon as possible,” he said.

“Our crews are getting back out in the field again, we have 450 staff in the field.”

Police set up two rescue centres near Derry after more than 100 vehicles became stranded at the Glenshane pass.

One of the centres was also a casualty of the power failures, it emerged.

Drivers were taken to Dungiven Leisure Centre near Derry, but a blackout meant the site had to be switched to the Roe Leisure Centre in nearby Limavady.

Colin Brown, of Northern Ireland Roads Service, said he expected poor weather throughout the day.

“We are getting geared up for difficult day of rain turning to snow as we progress through the day and into the afternoon and evening.”