Glendoe out of action until 2010

The Glendoe hydro power station halted power generation in August

A £140m hydro electric scheme will be out of action until well into next year at the earliest, its operator has said.

In August, a rock fall closed a tunnel carrying water from a hilltop reservoir to a massive turbine on the Glendoe project near Loch Ness.

Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) said the fall was "very substantial" and it was working with its contractors on how to make repairs.

The site was officially opened by the Queen in June.

In a report giving updates on its major projects, SSE said investigations had confirmed that the rock fall was in a section close to the top of the tunnel.

It added: "SSE is now working with its principal contractor and others to determine how best to effect the necessary repairs and achieve a resumption of electricity generation at the site, but this will not take place until well into 2010 at the earliest."