More than 2,000 homes in Northern Ireland are experiencing power cuts because of high winds overnight.

Northern Ireland Electricity customers in Newry, Forkhill, Coleraine and Dromore in County Down, Crumlin and Nutts Corner, Ballinderry Upper and Aldergrove in County Antrim and in Armagh have been affected.

Engineers have restored power supply in some areas.

Three thousand homes in Crumlin, Aldergrove area have had the electricity supply restored and 500 customers in Armagh have been reconnected.

But other areas including Coleraine, Forkhill and Dromore still have a cut in supply.

The Meteorological Office has said the winds - of up to 60 miles an hour -are expected to increase to gale force nine off the coast.

Drivers are being warned to watch for fallen branches and high-sided vehicles are also at risk on exposed sections of road.

Meanwhile, in the County Down fishing village of Portavogie, 1,100 electricty customers were cut off when a vehicle accidently damaged a power cable.