Boarders at private Shropshire school forced to relocate by storm
Boarders at an exclusive private school on the outskirts of Shrewsbury had to relocate to a nearby hotel after storms knocked out the power.
Adcote School headmaster Gary Wright made the decision that the girls, aged up to 18, should be moved to a nearby hotel while trees and debris were removed from the plush grounds.
Phone lines were knocked out as well as electricity, but despite this the school remained opened yesterday until 4pm. Today was set to be a normal school day after diesel generators were set up.
Mr Wright said: "Staff worked hard as a team to ensure the school remained open yesterday in somewhat challenging circumstances. It is remarkable how the best in human spirit shines through in adverse times."
Mains electricity was knocked out at just before 5.30pm on Wednesday for houses in Nesscliffe, Felton Butler, Great Ness and Little Ness, Baschurch, West Felton and Valeswood. Elsewhere, Western Power Distribution said it still had 2,800 customers across the West Midlands without power at 8pm last night.
ScottishPower said it still had 31,000 homes without electricity last night, including 9,700 in Dee Valley and Oswestry and 5,600 in Mid Wales.
ScottishPower has drafted in additional engineers and contractors from Scotland and the rest of the UK and now has 1,100 staff working in the field. Spokesman Simon McMillan said: "The biggest issue affecting the electricity network has been uprooted trees and other debris blown on to overhead power lines, which has caused damage and brought down the power lines in some areas."
Meanwhile, about 35 houses in Showell Grange, near Newport, which lost power on Wednesday night still had no electricity last night – and Western Power Distribution said it could be noon today before it is back on.
