Power was restored to 27,000 British homes yesterday as stormy conditions caused by a so-called “weather bomb” battered the UK, including northern England.

Thousands of customers late yesterday were still without electricity in the Highlands, Shetland and Western Isles as high winds sweep Scotland.

Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution (SHEPD) said it has 500 engineers working to restore supplies, although repairs were taking longer due to the nature and complexity of the damage to the network in some areas.

Earlier the entire Western Isles were left without power, while some customers in Orkney and Skye were also affected.

The stormy weather has caused disruption across parts of the UK with power cuts, ferry and train cancellations and difficult driving conditions.

High winds sweep across Scotland, northern England, northern Ireland

The Met Office issued an amber ‘’be prepared’’ warning for the west coast of Scotland, the Highlands and Islands, Orkney, Shetland, northern England and Northern Ireland.

A gust of 81mph was recorded in Tiree yesterday morning while South Uist was hit by a 79mph gust and Islay by one at 77mph, according to the Met Office. Winds of around 50mph were recorded in north-west England and North Wales, where yellow “be aware” warnings are in place.

Elsewhere, a fishing vessel which issued a Mayday call at around 5.30am after it was hit by a wave that smashed windows on the bridge was escorted to safety.

The Shetland Coastguard rescue helicopter and Stromness Lifeboat were sent to the scene off Orkney.

The British-registered vessel O Genita, which has a Spanish crew, was escorted to Westray in Orkney by the lifeboat. None of the 16 crew were injured.

In Aberdeenshire around 20 cars were freed after they were stuck in icy conditions at Cairn O’Mount, while the Forth Road Bridge was closed to high-sided vehicles and the Tay Bridge was only open to cars. The process behind the storm is known colloquially as a weather bomb.

Fifteen flood warnings and 12 flood alerts were issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) on Wednesday, although 13 of the warnings and two of the alerts were lifted by early afternoon.

All Western Isles Council’s schools and nurseries were shut along with all depots, libraries, museums and sports facilities.

More than 40 schools and nurseries in the Highland Council area were closed yesterday.