Schools closed due to power cut

BALTASOUND Junior High School and the primary school in Fetlar are closed on Thursday due to a power cut in the north isles of Shetland which initially affected 530 households and businesses.

Scottish & Southern Energy said on Thursday morning that electricity supplies to customers in Fetlar and Yell have now been restored.

Customers in Unst will have to wait until around 1pm to be reconnected, a spokeswoman said.

The power went off at just before 10pm due to a pole that went on fire. The cause of the fire is unknown, she said.

Meanwhile, ferry services are returning back to normal after a night severe south easterly gales.

Some of Shetland inter-island ferries were suspended for a time on Thursday night, while both NorthLink ferries delayed their departure from Lerwick and Aberdeen respectively.

Estimated time of arrival for the Hjaltland in Lerwick is 11am. The Hrossey was due to arrive in Kirkwall at 8am and is expected to arrive in Aberdeen at 2.30pm.

Meanwhile, the coastguard search and rescue helicopter is on its way to the drill platform Sedco714, 100 miles northeast of Sumburgh, to airlift a man in need for medical treatment.