AT LEAST 150 homes in rural areas around the town are still without power following 'extreme' weather on Friday night.

Southern Electric Power Distribution engineers continue to make good progress restoring power customers across central southern England. 

Currently there are approximately 6,000 customers left without power across the SEPD operating region and to date, engineers have attended to, and repaired over 300 separate incidents of damage.

Since the extreme weather on Friday night SEPD has restored power to over 174,000 affected homes.

SEPD expects to restore supplies to all customers throughout the course of today providing there are not unexpected issues with access cause by flooding or fallen trees.

A statement from the firm said: "Over 1,000 staff continue work to repair damage and restore power to customers throughout the course of the day.

"Additional resources drafted in from SEPD’s sister company in Scotland have been assisting with the restoration plans since the start of the event. 

"All SEPD depots have been manned overnight and have significant additional support today to help provide information for customers and help with community liaison.

"Additional customer service staff are in place to handle calls from customers today. Extra teams of people will be making calls out to customers to provide information updates. Calls are also being made to vulnerable customers to offer help and reassurance.

"Welfare vehicles and hot meal vans are moving around the affected areas giving advice, distributing free hot meals and drinks, and providing charging facilities for mobile phones."

Further information about locations of the catering and welfare vans can be found at www.ssepd.co.uk.