THE RESPONSE to Storm Arwen continues as thousands of people remain unable to access electricity.

Volunteers continue to work together in response to this major incident which was declared in Cumbria on Friday 26 November.

As of Friday morning around 1,700 homes in Cumbria remain without electricity. Teams from Electricity North West have been working in challenging conditions but hoped to bring this number down and have the vast majority of customers back on their main network supply or powered via generator by the end of Friday.

Teams and volunteers have been door knocking on homes that are still without power, checking on residents’ safety and welfare, providing advice and support if required. They are especially targeting home visits to people known to agencies as potentially vulnerable or have requested support.

Alongside this, the British Red Cross and partners are continuing to work with Electricity North West to telephone all customers that still are without power.

Electricity North West has said that short power cuts will be caused as generators are removed and people are switched back to the main network.

They request that peoplel also check trip switches and help neighbours to check theirs if needed.

The public are also asked to take extra care when driving on some of the less used routes in the county as there may be fallen trees and debris that hasn’t yet been reported and removed. To report a problem on the county’s roads, please report online via the County Council website -https://www.cumbria.gov.uk/highways

If anyone sees any electricity lines down, stay well away and call Electricity North West immediately on 105.

The public are reminded to contact www.cumbria.police.uk/report-it or call 101 if they have concerns about their own safety and well-being, or the safety and well-being of someone they know. If there is an immediate risk to life people should call 999.