back on her feet.

Bermuda Weather Service forecaster Mr. George Parkes reported that the tropical storm warning had ended for the Island early yesterday morning and the strong southerly winds would gradually diminish.

Hurricane warnings were in effect along the Virginia and North Carolina coasts of the US and Felix was expected to make landfall at 2 a.m. this morning. Full story: Page 8 .

Meanwhile, Bermuda Electric Light Company public relations officer Ms Linda Smith said last night crews had been working since 7 a.m. yesterday morning to restore power to some of the 2,000 homes which were left in the dark on Tuesday.

Priority was given to replacing lines, poles and transformers which would "get as many people on as quickly as possible'', Ms Smith said.

She added that crews were working through the night and Belco's goal "is to have all residential customers on by the weekend''.

Bermuda Telephone Company operations manager Mr. Collington Perinchief said Telco had dealt with 300 of 400 trouble calls it received during the hurricane.

"It is a bit early to tell,'' Mr. Perinchief said yesterday, "but hopefully by tomorrow we will be able to see the results after a full day in the field.'' Several residences were also still without cable television yesterday evening.

But no-one could be reached for comment at Bermuda Cablevision.

Also yesterday, Bermuda Broadcasting Company began broadcasting all of its AM radio day shows on FM.

Programme director Mr. Everest DaCosta said this was because the company's AM transmitters in Somerset had sustained serious damage during the hurricane. He said they would be broadcasting on FM for an unknown length of time.

The effects of Hurricane Felix also forced the Olympic Club to remain shut yesterday while workers cleared up the damage caused by rain coming through two eight-foot-square holes in the roof.

Owner of the fitness club, on Dundonald Street West, Mr. Nick Jones said it will reopen today. But the aerobics room and women's changing room will be out of commission for an indefinite period.

He estimated that repairs will run in the region of at least $50,000.

Meanwhile insurance companies said claims continued to flow in.

General manager of Colonial Insurance Mr. William Madeiros said some claims had been settled on Tuesday. More were coming in, but officers were waiting on damage estimates to settle most of them.

However, he still estimated the cost to be about $250,000.

BF&M Insurance Group president Mr. Glenn Titterton said they had received about 160 claims yesterday and they estimated the cost to be close to $1 million.

A free service will begin today to collect horticultural waste or debris as a result of the hurricane, Works Minister the Hon. Leonard Gibbons also announced yesterday.

The debris should be put out by 7.30 a.m. where normal garbage is collected and it must be no longer than five feet in length and two men must be able to lift it.

Mr. Gibbons said people wishing to drop off their horticultural waste should take it to the Marsh Folly facility between 7.30 a.m. and 4 p.m. from Monday to Saturday.

Firefighters received five calls within 30 minutes last night.

Two of the reports were believed to be as a result of the after effects of Hurricane Felix.

After 7.30 p.m. five firefighters in one vehicle responded to a brush fire at the Plantation Restaurant in Bailey's Bay, Hamilton Parish.

A Fire Service spokesman said the fire was due to trees brushing against a high voltage wire. No damage was caused to the restaurant.

Minutes later, a gas leak was reported at a home at the junction of Bleak Farm Road and Watlington Road West.

At ten minutes after 10 p.m. five firefighters rushed to a pole fire near the National Stadium in Devonshire.

The fire was put out after power was shut off, and only a crossarm and transformer were damaged.

Three minutes later, ten firefighters in three vehicles responded to a fire at Southcote Avenue in Paget.

A spokesman said the fire was quickly isolated and a receptacle, which was on fire, was removed. No other damage was reported.

Earlier in the day, a tree fell on the roof of an apartment at Rose Hill in Southampton. But no damage was reported.