Thousands lose power after lorry strikes overhead line

OVER 4,500 properties across Shetland lost power on Friday morning after a lorry struck an overhead power line at the Lerwick Power Station.

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) were alerted at 9.40am to a power cut affecting a number of areas including Sandness, Walls, Scalloway, Sandwick, Cunningsburgh and Gulberwick.

SSEN said shortly before 11am that 4,537 properties were affected, with the problem stemming from the damage to the high voltage overhead line. Power was restored to all customers by 1.30pm.

The main road at Lerwick Power Station will be closed for an hour until about 12.45pm to allow urgent repairs to be carried out on overhead power lines.

Follow the progress of efforts to reconnect supplies on SSEN’s Power Track webpage.