About 13,000 homes in Cumbria finally have power restored after engineers battled heavy snowfall, according to Electricity North West (ENWL). However, around 800 homes were still without power on Monday and several schools had to close due to the wintry weather. The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings in parts of Scotland due to the possibility of road and railway disruption as well as in the north of England for ice, and rain in some areas of Wales and Devon and West Somerset. Some roads also remain impassable in Cumbria due to the conditions caused by ice and snow.
ENWL said the snow had caused extensive damage to miles of overhead lines. The company has described these conditions as some of the worst in terms of snow that it had seen in several years. Free hot food was provided by the company at a service station in Ulverston for those still affected. Customer director Stephanie Trubshaw said that engineers were facing treacherous conditions while trying to restore power. RAC breakdown spokesman Simon Williams cautioned drivers to be careful on the icy and slippery roads of northern parts of the country.
A multi-agency response was launched on Saturday as police declared a major incident after the Met Office issued an amber warning for snowfall. The Langdale Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team reported facing severe weather and large numbers of emergency calls over the weekend, including helping people suffering from cardiac arrests, spinal injuries from sledging accidents, and strokes. Numerous drivers had to abandon their vehicles due to the adverse weather conditions and sought temporary shelter, with some sleeping in a girl guide centre. The annual Christmas fair in the village of Hawkshead was cancelled, leading to a group sleepover in the centre’s bunks.
BBC North East & Cumbria reported on the events, offering links to related articles and information on weather updates. Police have asked people to remain cautious while travelling, check their routes before leaving, and ensure vehicles have been thoroughly de-iced and demisted in the extreme weather conditions. No additional new details have been documented
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