Power supplies in North cut off

It was officially a white Christmas in Northern Ireland but most people didn't experience any snow

It was officially a white Christmas in Northern Ireland but most people didn't experience any snow. The odds available in most bookmakers earlier in the month of snow falling on December 25th were 9-1 but they were cut to 6-1 as Christmas Day approached.

A spokesman for the Met Office said there were slight snow showers in most parts of the North but that it generally lay only on a few hillsides.

"Snow fell at Belfast International Airport so officially it was a White Christmas and any punters who took the odds should be paid out," he said.

"But the snow didn't lie in most places. We are expecting a few more snow showers over coming days but nothing very heavy." The RUC has warned drivers to take extra care because of widespread black ice.

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Temperatures were expected to drop last night making conditions on the roads more dangerous. Meanwhile, gales caused disruption to the electricity supply of thousands of households over Christmas.

High winds meant that more than 6,000 families had their supplies cut off last Thursday. Lisburn, Co Antrim, was the worst hit with around 5,000 homes affected. However, Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) engineers restored power in just over an hour.

Other areas affected were Craigavon, Co Armagh; Newry, Co Down; Omagh, Co Tyrone; Strabane, Co Derry; and Downpatrick, Co Down. Power was quickly restored in all areas.

Last Christmas, NIE was criticised for the length of time it took to restore power to thousands of customers after storms.