Storm Boelo clean-up begins as thousands left without power

A clean-up operation is under way in parts of the UK after Storm Boelo caused flooding and property damage, leaving thousands without power.

The Energy Networks Association (ENA) said around 22,600 properties are still without power as of Monday afternoon.

Two men were killed by falling trees during the storm on Sunday – a man in his 20s whose car was hit in north London and a 60-year-old man in Dumfries and Galloway identified as Richard Baines, the long-serving curator of Logan Botanic Garden.

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for strong winds from 18:00 on Monday to 03:00 on Tuesday across the west coast of England, Wales and Scotland and eastern parts of Northern Ireland.

The Met Office has warned that further power cuts in areas covered by the warning are likely and people should make sure they have essentials prepared, including torches and batteries.

Coastal communities could also be affected by spray or large waves, while travel delays are expected.

Boelo is the second storm to have hit parts of the UK in recent days, following Storm Austen.

Leo Slade, CEO of the ENA said it had been “a tough weekend” and that efforts to reconnect some properties were being hampered by the weather, with sustained winds of 50-85mph across parts of Scotland and northern England.

“Until that weather system passes, we can’t safely get engineers out to replace poles, to get wires back up, so today is going to be a hive of activity in getting engineers out into the field,” Slade told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

He stressed that the UK’s power network was very resilient and money was spent to prepare for these sorts of scenarios, but said a debate was needed over how much more investment was required to mitigate for further storms brought by climate change.