Liverpool weather and Formby power cut latest updates as homes and businesses hit by blackout

A Merseyrail spokesman has just sent us the below information as services are returning to normal:

The power outage and signalling issues on the Southport line have been fixed now. Merseyrail services will begin returning to normal but may still face some delays and alteration. We are working hard to return all services to schedule as soon as possible

We’re told the obstruction on the West Kirby line has also been removed. Services will now begin to return to the normal schedule.

While Formby was hit by a total blackout, we’ve also received reports of problems affecting Huyton.

One resident told us their power went off at around 5.45pm, with house alarms sounding immediately.

She said:

Everyone just wandered into the road and didn’t reallt know what to do. The power cut seems to be intermittent with the odd estate being office, some street lights and some traffic lights off

One mum from Formby contacted us with an account of the power cut.

She said:

We were just cooking the tea when everything went off. First thing I did was go to Google the number for Scottish Power but we had no signal either. I was worried about a family member who lives alone so I drove to see how far the power cut had spread and to try and get some signal and I’ve never seen Formby like it, it was like rush hour x 10. The traffic lights going out really didn’t help either it was horrendous

A Formby resident told us the traffic lights are down at the junction of Formby Bypass near the Tesco and McDonald’s.

The town’s Tesco would normally be a hive of activity this close to Christmas. Not so this evening

Earlier issues with signalling on the Northern Line appear to be being compounded by the weather.

Merseyrail have tweeted warning of ‘severe disruption’

They add:

Train services are starting and terminating at Rice Lane. Replacement bus service has been requested between Aintree and Headbolt Lane, running in both direction and stopping at all stations.

Due to loss of power near Freshfield, a fallen tree blocking tracks near Kirkby and signalling issues at Liverpool Central. Northern line services are facing severe disruption. Rail replacement requested, more info shortly.

The forecast for the next few hours is for very windy conditions, with the BBC predicting speeds of up to 60mph this evening. The rain and wind are expected to calm towards midnight and in to the early hours.

Merseyside Police have tweeted to say they’ve had reports of multiple fallen trees across the region. They say to contact your local council if you need to report one yourself.

Umbrellas and hoods were the order of the day as Christmas shoppers hit Liverpool city centre today. The impact of Storm Elin was clearly being felt, as our photographer’s pictures showed.

SP Energy networks said they had had no advance warning, and the incident is certainly not typical for the town. One resident said they didn’t remember a blackout affecting Formby since the 1970s.

We began receiving reports at around 5.30pm that Formby had been affected by power issues. One person who contacted the ECHO reported a “total blackout”.

Another resident said they had had to drive to Ainsdale to get signal in order to report all mobile data was down in the town, as well as the mains electricity.