ScottishPower said today that it had reconnected more than 18,000 customers who had lost power because of over 100 individual faults. Scottish Hydro said around 50,000 of their customers had been left without electricity.
 
In one spectacular incident yesterday a 300ft wind turbine exploded in flames as it was buffeted by the high winds.

Another wind turbine was completely blown down on Wednesday, raising questions about the ability of wind farms to cope with the weather.

The flaming £2 million wind turbine was in Ardrossan, North Ayrshire, Scotland. Witnesses said its blades were locked at the time, because the National Grid would be unable to cope with a sudden power surge.

Photographer Stuart McMahon, who took the incredible image, said: "The centre of the turbine caught fire first and the flames spread to the covering of the blades."