Aftermath of Storm Arwen sees thousands without power, heating and water

Thousands of the region's homes woke up without power or heating this morning (29 November), as communities look to pick up the pieces from Storm Arwen.

Almost 70,000 homes in Cumbria and 40,000 in southern Scotland were affected.

The areas hit hardest were Alston and Coniston, where community hubs have now been set up to help those struggling.

North of the Border, centres were set up in Duns, Innerleithen, Hawick and Earlston.

Cumbria County Council are also running food vans in both towns as well as in Ambleside, where a man was killed by a falling tree at the weekend.

Some properties in the area are also without water supplies. United Utilities say vehicles are delivering bottled water to affected communities this morning. 

Guy Jefferson from SP Energy Networks on the work being done to restore power

Welfare checks on the vulnerable will continue throughout the day, coordinated by a multi-agency operation.

Meanwhile, members of the public are being urged to stay away from forests due to the damage caused, which Forestry and Land Services says could take months to clear up.

Paul Bircham from Electricity North West on the extent of the damage

Power suppliers on both sides of the border have been speaking about the challenges they have faced and are facing to reconnect homes.