ABOUT 4,800 homes in rural areas around Salisbury are without power following last night’s storms.

Engineers from Southern Electric Power Distribution (SEPD) are working to restore the electricity supply after the high winds caused damage overnight.

The company says staff are working in challenging conditions to locate damage and repair overhead lines.

More than 1,000 engineers, linesmen, tree-cutters, line patrollers and support staff are working across the region. Flooding and fallen trees are making the work more difficult.

SEPD says it is paying extra attention to vulnerable customers and is working with local authority strategic coordinating groups to ensure they are cared for and kept informed.

SEPD has deployed two welfare and four hot meal vans to move around the areas affected giving advice, distributing free hot meals and drinks, and providing charging facilities for mobile phones.