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Some properties are without electricity in South Harris after a gale damaged power lines.

 

A hydro pole carrying the main supply running alongside the Golden Road through the Bays of Harris went on fire after it shorted when strong winds ripped off a live wire.

 

Teenager James Marrow spotted the pole in flames outside his home at Floddabay.

 

It was carrying cables across the roadway and he feared the wind could topple the weaken pole onto passing cars.

 

The teenager stopped traffic from driving under the live electricity wires until the emergency services arrived.

 

Bizarrely, the fire burned a hole clean through the centre of the wooden pole.

 

Scottish Hydro was forced to switch off electricity to hundreds of people in surrounding villages.

 

Most got reconnected but some properties are still affected today, as a new pole is installed.

 

James Marrow said: “I came out the house and the pole was on fire with smoke and sparks coming from it.

 

“Dad told me to go down the road to stop the traffic because of the danger of power lines falling on the road and killing somebody.

 

“Then I saw flames from the other side of the pole.”

His father, Tony, said: “We rang the hydro and they told us they would ring the police. Then we went to block the road just in case the live wires came down.

Hebrides News: South Harris powercut

Blazing hydro pole knocks out power supplies                4/1/13

See-through - the fire burned a hole straight through the hydro pole. James Marrow (right) raised the alarm

Hebrides News: James Marrow