Children build snowmen on Saturday in Derriaghy

AROUND 900 homes are still without power on Saturday after the first snow of winter hit Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland Electricity has said those mainly affected were in the Newry and Downpatrick areas.

Its engineers worked through the night as more than 2,500 homes across Northern Ireland were affected as a result of heavy snow and high winds.

Many of those still without power are in hard to reach places.

NIE said its engineers are using a helicopter to get to those areas and restore power as soon as possible.

The weather is continuing to disrupt transport throughout Northern Ireland with ice the main problem in many parts.

The Roads Service said it is continuing to salt roads where needed on Saturday.

EVENING ALL!…Snow joke being a police car.

There are also warnings of fresh snow falls, so motorists are asked to take extra care, particularly on minor or untreated roads.

Ploughing operations have also been undertaken where necessary.

Snowfall also hit road-users and flights out of Belfast International Airport and George Best Belfast City Airport on Friday.

The International Airport said a flight to Bristol had been cancelled and all other departures to the rest of the UK were running with slight delays.

The airport is open and operational on Saturday morning with only a few minor delays.

Some flights from Belfast City Airport were also cancelled or delayed on Friday evening.

It said any cancellations on Friday evening “were the result of operational decisions taken by the individual airlines”.

Penguins feelling right at home in Belfast Zoo

All ferry sailings were cancelled on Friday between Rathlin and Ballycastle due to the bad weather.