Thousands of homes left without gas as snow set to sweep in

Thousands of homes in Aberdeenshire and Moray have been left without gas as heavy snow is set to sweep in.

Gas distribution company SGN said around 4500 properties in Huntly and Keith have been affected, and urged residents to turn off their supplies.

The issue was reported on Tuesday morning.

Engineers have worked on site throughout the day and continue to investigate the cause of the outage.

In an update at 7.45pm, SGN said: “All gas supplies will need to remain off overnight and tomorrow.

“We’ll update you when it’s safe to turn gas supplies back on. Until then, it’s important your supply remains turned off at the meter.

“We very much appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as we’ve been dealing with this emergency today.”

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for snow in the area on Wednesday.

SGN is coordinating a letter drop to all affected households, and will offer additional support to vulnerable residents.

Roddy Burns, Moray Council chief executive, said: “All agencies are pulling together to ensure the welfare of all residents in Keith and the surrounding area at an already difficult time.

“I’d encourage anyone to share the information being published on keeping safe, warm and secure with neighbours, elderly and vulnerable family and friends in particular.

“We’re making contact with residents as best we can but any help in spreading these messages is appreciated.

“We’ll continue to assist our residents and partners as long as is necessary.”

Those without gas that need extra help are being asked to call 0800 912 1717.

For more information, click here.

Tips to stay warm

Have plenty of hot drinks like tea, coffee or hot water as this will help to keep you warm. Just boil the amount of water you need each time and this will save you money too.
If you are using alternative heating appliances ensure these are safe to use and safely positioned.
Stay snug and warm with lots of layers. Wear a few layers of thin clothing rather than one thick layer as this will trap the heat better to keep you warm. Socks, slippers, hats and gloves are great too, and are a good way to keep you warm in bed.
Try not to sit for more than one hour – get up and walk around. If walking is a problem try moving your arms and legs whilst sitting, or wiggling your fingers and toes.
Cover yourself with a blanket if you are sitting for long periods and put your feet up if you can – the air is colder near the floor.
Keep curtains closed for added insulation.