that frustration is widely shared. we live in the centre of ponteland, we are just a mile from an international airport. this meeting in darras hall one of a series organised to hear from residents hit by the storm. didn't have any power, any heating. everything was gone. what was the impact on your family? horrendous. we had no power for six days. we couldn't speak to anybody within the grid because there| was nobody taking calls. it was horrific because we had no heating, lighting or anything at all. it was like going back into the dark ages. northern powergrid says it has already paid out more than £300,000 in compensation and is improving its communication with customers. the mp behind this gathering says further change is vital. there is no doubt that we can do better, that we can be more prepared, putting it bluntly. we are doing that. there are a number of different enquiries by 0fgem, the department for business, northumberland county council, and we are feeding in all that information from constituents who are going to come tonight. a devastating blast of wind and ice. seven weeks on, the political