TWO local men formed part of EDF Energy's Rapid Response Force to France, after hurricane-force winds of 114mph interrupted electricity supplies to 1.7m customers at the height of the storm at the weekend.

TWO local men formed part of EDF Energy's Rapid Response Force to France, after hurricane-force winds of 114mph interrupted electricity supplies to 1.7m customers at the height of the storm at the weekend.

The south-west area of France, near Mont de Marsan, endured the brunt of the weather on Saturday in the worst storms seen in the region for years.

The teams of British linesmen, engineers, tree cutters and contractors who headed out to France on Monday all normally work on EDF Energy Networks' distribution networks in the South East and East of England. They staff were expected to spend a week working closely with French colleagues to help repair power lines, remove debris and fallen trees.

The workforce that headed out to France included Logan Page from Gorleston and Jason Townley from Oulton Broad.