LONDON, Feb 28 (AFP) - Thousands of people in Britain and Ireland were enduring a night without electricity and many more faced transport chaos as heavy snow, and strong winds lashed the two countries.

In Scotland, 60,000 homes were without power, according to electricity generator Scottish Power, while at one point in Northern Ireland 70,000 homes had their electricity cut off by gale force winds.

A further 10,000 homes remained without power in the Northeast. Many residents were hunkering down for a miserable night without heating and light.

Travel in some areas of Britain was all but impossible on Tuesday as the wind, in places reaching up to 110 kilometres (70 miles) per hour, whipped the snow into deep drifts. There were delays at Edinburgh airport after it was closed for several hours in the morning, and the airport in Dublin was closed outright, forcing the cancellation of some 400 flights.

All railway lines between England and Scotland were blocked and services were cancelled. Passengers on board the overnight sleeper train from London to Edinburgh were stranded when their train ground to a halt in Lockerbie, in the south of Scotland. They were transferred to a nearby hotel while engineers worked to clear the line. On the roads too there were problems. Scottish police advised motorists to avoid travelling unless their journey was essential. If they had to, they should carry a shovel, warm clothing and food and drink in case they became stranded, police said.
Our officers have been exceptionally busy trying to rescue people who have attempted car journeys, said Scottish police spokesman, Superintendent Charles Common. Our cars are no different fron anyone else's and officers have been having to dig themselves out while trying to help people who have no reason to be out in their cars.