Power cut across the isles

ALMOST every property in Shetland suffered a power cut on Tuesday evening after a fault developed in the connection between the power stations at Sullom Voe oil terminal and Lerwick.

Around 12,000 homes lost power around 9.40pm and while some were back on within 10 minutes, many were without electricity for 40 minutes.

A spokeswoman for Scottish & Southern Energy said that a few houses in Lerwick being supplied directly from the Lerwick power station escaped the blackout. She said engineers had not explained the cause of the fault.