Cash payments after big storm

Thousands of homes were affected by the storm

Hundreds of households in the East Midlands are getting cash payments after a storm last autumn left them without power.

East Midlands Electricity has agreed to pay thousands of pounds in compensation to customers who were affected by power cuts after severe October storms.

Some households had to wait more than three days before their electricity was reconnected.

The electricity firm will pay £43,000 compensation to 787 customers in the region.

More than 200,000 homes across the East Midlands were affected by the rain and wind storms.

POWER CUTS Some people have waited nearly a year only to find that they will get £25 Allan Asher Energywatch

But Alistair Foye from Energywatch says people who did not lodge formal complaints will miss out on compensation.

In Lincolnshire, more than 800 householders were left without power during the storms.

Customers who were without electricity for 30 hours or more will receive from £25 to £125 in compensation.

Andrew Walker from the national electricity regulator Ofgem says improvements need to be made to ensure more dependable power supply.

Six electricity companies across the UK have agreed to pay more than £1.6m in total to customers.

Allan Asher, chief executive of Energywatch, said: "Some people have waited nearly a year only to find that they will get £25.

"Others will not qualify for compensation at all - this will be a very bitter pill for people to swallow."