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Heaters distributed as Falkirk gas supply fault continues Heaters distributed as Falkirk gas supply fault continues
(about 1 hour later)
Thousands of homes in the Falkirk area have spent the night without heat in freezing temperatures after a major gas network failure.Thousands of homes in the Falkirk area have spent the night without heat in freezing temperatures after a major gas network failure.
Heaters and portable cookers have been distributed to vulnerable residents and 14 schools and nurseries are closed.Heaters and portable cookers have been distributed to vulnerable residents and 14 schools and nurseries are closed.
Gas infrastructure company SGN said it was likely to be "several more days" before all gas supplies were restored. Engineers drafted in from around the country are going door-to-door visiting more than 8,000 affected customers.
Engineers have been drafted in from around the country to fix the issue affecting 8,000 customers. They have warned some homes could be without gas supplies until the weekend in the "worst-case scenario".
They are visiting every home to turn off gas supplies at the meter. By the end of Sunday night, they had been to 3,000 homes. Denis Kerby, of gas infrastructure company SGN, said they were working to restore supplies as quickly as possible.
In its latest online update, SGN said: "We've restarted visiting homes this morning and we'll be calling at as many more affected properties as possible to turn off the gas supply at the meter today." "That might be a couple of days but in terms of getting everyone back on, we're looking at five days," he told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme.
With overnight temperatures dipping below zero, people living in the area are being urged to check on vulnerable neighbours. "It could be up to Friday, it could even creep into the weekend - that is really the worst-case scenario."
Meanwhile, residents have also been warned to be "mindful" of their electricity use, following a number of power outages in the area overnight. He said engineers were visiting every home to turn off gas supplies at the meter for safety reasons.
On Twitter, police said: "Scottish Power is asking people in the Falkirk area is to be mindful of their electricity use over the coming days as there's increased demand on the electricity network with people using heaters while they're without gas. Even if residents have managed the turn off their own supplies, engineers still need to make a home visit.
By the end of Sunday night, they had been to 3,000 homes, according to SGN's latest online update,.
A problem with a "governor" station which regulates gas pressure in the local network developed at about 04:30 Sunday.A problem with a "governor" station which regulates gas pressure in the local network developed at about 04:30 Sunday.
Thousands of people woke up to discover they had no heating or hot water as their boilers shut down.Thousands of people woke up to discover they had no heating or hot water as their boilers shut down.
SGN said homes in Bainsford, Carron, Carronshore, Larbert, Langlees, New Carron Village, Skinflats and Stenhousemuir were affected.SGN said homes in Bainsford, Carron, Carronshore, Larbert, Langlees, New Carron Village, Skinflats and Stenhousemuir were affected.
'Massive response' Meanwhile, residents have also been warned to be "mindful" of their electricity use, following a number of power outages in the area overnight.
Spokesman Denis Kerby said the fault was swiftly located but it would take an enormous effort to fix it and restore supplies safely. On Twitter, police said: "Scottish Power is asking people in the Falkirk area is to be mindful of their electricity use over the coming days as there's increased demand on the electricity network with people using heaters while they're without gas.
He said: "We will have to get round and isolate the supplies to all these properties before we can make any attempt to get the gas supplies back on. With overnight temperatures dipping below zero, people living in the area are being urged to check on vulnerable neighbours.
"We are currently repairing the problem - we will get that done in the next day. Then we have to get engineers to visit all the homes to isolate them.
"It's a massive response required. We are looking to see if we can bring in engineers from other parts of the country and others parts of the UK as well."
Falkirk council said 14 schools and nurseries would not open Monday, with a decision on whether they remain shut on Tuesday to be taken later.Falkirk council said 14 schools and nurseries would not open Monday, with a decision on whether they remain shut on Tuesday to be taken later.
The authority made the Camelon Community Centre available to SGN, which was handing out portable heating and cooking equipment to elderly, sick or disabled customers and those with young children.The authority made the Camelon Community Centre available to SGN, which was handing out portable heating and cooking equipment to elderly, sick or disabled customers and those with young children.
A mobile catering unit was also distributing hot food.A mobile catering unit was also distributing hot food.
Mr Kerby added: "Our priority is vulnerable customers. We are liaising with the local authority and our partners in the community to make sure we can visit all the people who may need that extra bit of helpMr Kerby added: "Our priority is vulnerable customers. We are liaising with the local authority and our partners in the community to make sure we can visit all the people who may need that extra bit of help
"We would also appeal to people to be really good neighbours - and please check on any elderly neighbours or anyone in the vicinity who may need some extra help.""We would also appeal to people to be really good neighbours - and please check on any elderly neighbours or anyone in the vicinity who may need some extra help."
One local resident, David McCallan, told BBC Scotland that his home was like an "ice box" when he woke up on Monday morning, until he switched on a heater supplied by SGN.
"It's not a great heat but it's sufficient to keep myself and my wife warm enough."
Mother-of-four Angelene Perry, who has a nine-month-old baby, said she had borrowed four radiators from a friend and has been given a stove and two fan heaters by SGN.
Customers can request heating or cooking appliances by calling 0800 9121717.Customers can request heating or cooking appliances by calling 0800 9121717.
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