Storm Eunice: more than 150,000 British homes still without power

More than 1 million people suffered power cut in immediate aftermath of raging storm

Dominic Good examines a 400-year-old oak tree in his garden, which fell on his property in Essex after being uprooted by Storm Eunice. PA

About 155,000 British homes were still without power late on Saturday after Storm Eunice had knocked more than 1.3 million households off the grid the day before, energy companies said.

The fierce Atlantic storm brought record winds of up to 196kph to Britain, killing three people and causing widespread disruption. At least six more deaths were reported in Ireland, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Britain's Energy Networks Association said 1.22 million customers out of the 1.3 million affected by the storm had been reconnected as of 4pm local time on Saturday.

But 155,000 remained without power, mostly across southern England but also in the east and in south Wales. At the start of the day, 226,000 lacked electricity.

"Strong winds across southern England are impacting restoration efforts," Business and Energy Minister Kwasi Kwarteng said earlier in the day. "We expect most customers to have supplies restored promptly."

British energy companies have faced criticism after previous storms for being slow to reconnect more isolated properties.

About 1 million homes lost power in November when a storm hit north-east England and eastern Scotland.

While power was restored to the vast majority of homes within 48 hours, more than 3,000 households did not regain power for a week or more, prompting the government to order a review of utility firms' preparedness.