ABOUT 900 homes in Northern Ireland are without electricity after the region was hit by miserable weather overnight.

About 2,500 homes in total had power disconnected as a result of heavy snowfall and high winds, with just under a thousand still awaiting the reconnection of their services.

Northern Ireland Electricity said it had deployed repair teams in helicopters to access areas that had been rendered inaccessible by road as a result of the snow.

Up to 12 inches of snow fell in some parts of the North overnight, the most of any area in the UK.

ESB Networks has reported a small number of isolated faults around the country, including three in Co Donegal.

Faults at Carndonagh, Rossgeir and Kilcar are all due to be corrected by 2pm.

Five faults have also been reported in Co Cavan, four of them close to Bailieborough where service should also be restored by 2pm.

Customers at Shercock, south-west of Carrickmacross, are advised that it will be around 5pm before power is restored there.