HUNDREDS of homes have had electricity restored across Oxfordshire after Storm Barney batters the county.

In Chipping Norton, 220 properties were still waiting to regain power after it went off yesterday afternoon around 3.15pm.

Five hundred were affected initially and Southern Electric Power Distribution hoped to restore power for all customers in the area by 9pm. The firm has confirmed this morning that 2,000 homes were affected in total across Oxfordshire but that they are all now back on. 

About 700 customers lost power in Witney around 8pm, shortly followed by 1,300 in Fifield. Spokesman Duncan MacDonald said yesterday: "We apologise to all our customers and we are doing everything we can to get their power back on as swiftly and as quickly as possible."

Storm Barney is expected to bring winds of up to 60 mph.

Earlier yesterday, a couple had a lucky escape as a tree fell in front of them in North Oxford.

Mr MacDonald added: "It is likely that the power cuts have been caused by the weather as the high winds could damage the lines."