Where can I get help during the power cuts?

Thousands of people in Northern Ireland are spending their fifth day in a row without electricity or heating as a result of Storm Éowyn.

Concern is rising for vulnerable householders who are sitting in cold homes in the depths of winter, with little or no access to hot food or drinks.

All of Northern Ireland's 11 councils have opened community assistance centres in which affected customers can take shelter from the cold for a few hours.

Many of these hubs are based in council leisure centres, meaning people can also get a hot shower and charge their mobile phones during their visit.

Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) has published a full list of the available centres in each council area:

• Northern Ireland community assistance centres by location

Ards and North Down Council said 110 people made use of its services on Saturday and Sunday in various locations throughout the borough.

But not everyone in rural areas has access to transport to take them to their nearest leisure centre or community hall.

It is also the case that these facilities are only open during daytime hours, so affected customers still face going back home to try to sleep in cold conditions.

The charity Age NI has been fielding calls from elderly people and their relatives, worried about how they will get through the next few days without heat or power.

Its chief executive Linda Robinson told BBC News NI their call handlers are able to provide advice and signpost them to practical thanks to the help of a network of volunteers.

This can include delivering extra blankets, clothing or hot meals to people who have difficulty leaving their home.

"If they are in areas where we have local age networks, we're certainly giving them numbers, or we can those [volunteers] for them," she said.

She explained that many of the volunteers are drawn from community groups or church organisations, and Age NI has received several calls offering assistance.

"I think that's our community spirit coming out again that we knew so well during Covid, where people are listening to news reports and are wanting to help."

Ms Robinson also acknowledged can be "patchy" in very rural areas and that not everyone who needs help will be on the radar of Age NI or social services.

She suggests the provision of hotel accommodation, funded from the public purse, is one emergency measure that should be considered for the most vulnerable.

"When you get extreme circumstances like what we've all experienced since Friday, I think you have to look outside the box", she said.

"If we are aware of people who are most in need in of keeping themselves safe and well and warm and healthy - what are their options":[]}