About 2,500 properties in Suffolk and 3,200 in Essex are still without power following St Jude’s storm.

A number of drop in centres have been arranged for tomorrow in Suffolk from 9am to 12pm in areas where power has been off for a period of time.

They are: Ufford Village Hall (Eastern Facilities Management Services mobile catering support vehicle); Creeting St Peter Hall (Salvation Army mobile catering support vehicle); and Newton Green Village Hall (Royal Voluntary Service mobile catering service).

The Suffolk Joint Emergency Planning Unit is working with voluntary organisations to provide the centres in response to a request from UK Power Networks.

Services on offer include hot drinks and snacks, somewhere to sit down and get warm, a chance to speak with UK Power Network operatives to get the most up-to-date information and a member of the emergency planning unit will be on hand to co-ordinate with the voluntary organisations and UK Power Networks.

Today UK Power Networks teamed up with Suffolk County Council to set up hot food and welfare advice points near villages still without power: at Grundisburgh village green, Bromeswell village hall and Long Melford village hall.

Food vans were also arranged to provide warm food and drinks in locations across Suffolk.

Matt Rudling, director of customer services at UK Power Networks, said: “This is the first time we have worked with the council in this way, and it’s one of a range of ways we are trying to help customers who are still without power.

“We have also been sending customer service staff and British Red Cross volunteers, who we work in partnership with, to other locations to offer practical help.

“I would like to thank people who are still without power for their patience, and stress that we are working to restore all supplies as quickly as is safely possible.”

The storm was the biggest the company has coped with since 2002, and it caused extensive damage to overhead power lines affecting electricity supplies to nearly 650,000 customers.

If you have a power cut in the East of England call 0800 7838838. Also visit www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk and follow the company on twitter for updates.

Anyone spotting a damaged power line is also urged to report it to UK Power Networks, but to stay well clear of the equipment.