HIGH winds ripped off a large section of a roof at a luxury apartment block on Glasgow's riverfront.

Police threw up a cordon around the nine-storey Metropole building in Clyde Street which lies next to St Andrew's Cathedral.

It is the latest damage as the West of Scotland continues to be battered by winds and torrential rain with more expected throughout the day.

Hundreds of families left without electricity since Hogmanay were promised that supplies would be restored today.

They were to be given individual power generators even if permanent repairs had not been completed.

Back in Glasgow a full inspection was expected to start later today to assess the damage at the luxury development, where prices started at £200,000 for its 94 two or three-bedroom apartments and penthouse suite.

Although residents were not evacuated there was concern falling debris could be a hazard and Clyde Street, along with side streets, were blocked off.

Motorists were being warned Clyde Street would stay closed between Stockwell Street and Jamaica Street. Diversions were in place but traffic was expected to build later today.

It is thought the 80ft-high building is only partially occupied.

Meanwhile, ScottishPower was today still working flat out to get electricity back into hundreds of Scots homes.

This morning, of 26,000 homes cut off three days ago, 700 across Central Scotland were still without electricity.

Most of them are in Lanarkshire, Ayrshire, Dumfries and the Borders.

A ScottishPower spokeswoman said: "Where permanent repairs have not been done we will give out generators."

The utility giant has had more than 200 engineers, including 60 from England, working on repairs.

Ofgem, which regulates the energy industry, said customers cut off for 48 hours could claim compensation of £25, plus £25 for each additional 12-hour period without electricity.