About 700 Shetland properties still without power

About 700 properties in Shetland remain without power as engineers try to restore supplies.

Heavy snowstorms disrupted electricity supplies at the start of the week, leading to a major incident being declared.

Teams of engineers travelled by ferry to Shetland during the week to help.

Energy firm Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) said the aim was to get the majority connected by the end of the weekend.

However, some "small clusters" on the west side of Shetland's mainland may not have power back until Monday.

About 150 engineers are now battling snow and ice to rebuild Shetland's overhead power lines and reconnect properties to the network.

A statement from SSEN said: "Teams have worked tirelessly to restore 900 supplies in Sandness, Hillswick, Papa Stour and Wester Skeld, with some significant progress in West Mainland through the course of the day.

"As of 9.30pm this evening, c.700 properties remain without power in parts of Voe, Brae and West of Mainland Shetland."

The statement added: "Helicopters have been patrolling the West Mainland area, pinpointing key sections of damage to help our teams to target their efforts and get homes reconnected quicker than expected in some areas.

"Subject to no unforeseen challenges, we're confident that the vast majority, if not all, homes will be reconnected by Sunday. There's a chance that some small clusters of properties in the West Mainland, particularly west of Bixter, may be reconnected on Monday.

"Additional power line crews are travelling through the night to join our teams and we continue to make every possible effort to accelerate this timescale."

Mark Macdonald, head of region at SSEN Distribution, said teams of engineers would be out from first light on Saturday to continue restoring power to homes and businesses across Shetland.

He added: "We recognise that although the community spirit is still strong across the islands, customers experiencing a prolonged loss of power will face new challenges each day. I'd continue to encourage customers to take advantage of warm hubs set up."

Among those in Shetland with power restored is Siobhan Bradley, whose premature twins Danny and Annie were born five weeks early eight weeks ago and who told how she was trying to keep them warm and fed.

When the power failed on Monday, Siobhan, the twins and her nine-year-old son Benjamin moved into the home of her partner's mother, a mile-and-a-half away, and were in a room with a wood burner to keep them warm.

With power now restored, the 37-year-old, who is in Whalsay, told BBC Scotland it was a "massive relief".

The power cuts have been caused by "significant" network damage as a result of line icing, where snow and ice accumulate on overhead power lines and the additional weight causes them to break.

Customers can claim up to £30 per person for meals for every 24 hours they are without power. This is in addition to statutory compensation.

BBC Scotland's John Johnson in Shetland

The community spirit in Shetland is really shining through despite hundreds of homes without power.

Since the arrival of engineers there's been a real push to get people reconnected.

A break in the bad weather has helped, but there's still along with to go, with folk living in the west side of Shetland having to wait until Monday to see their power back on again.

A network of community halls is providing warm spaces, hot meals and drinks as well as place for people to charge their phones and even do their washing.

With the countdown to Christmas there's still a festive spirit in the islands. Last night the local drama group was able to stage again the pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk after it had been postponed for three nights.

All Shetland wants is the lights back on for everyone this Christmas.

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