The Bermuda Telephone Company (BTC) is offering customers without phone service the option to forward their home telephone to a working cell phone to help get them through this difficult period.

The Telecommunications Commission made a decision at 4 p.m. yesterday afternoon to waive the customary fee for the service.

Communications officer Ona Fletcher said the service will be free until the home telephones are working again.

Customers wishing to use this service may telephone 611.

"BTC's repair process is progressing with telephone lines out of service reduced to 1,325," said Ms Fletcher.

"The repair process has been progressing as quickly as it has largely because of the UMC cabinets or the improved BTC network.

"This provisioning started a few years ago and continues to respond to the growth in regular telephone service and to allow BTC to provide DSL or high-speed internet service.

"BTC appreciates the patience and consideration that customers have demonstrated during this difficult period."

10 main Belco circuits to repair

Bermuda Electric Light Company (Belco) has said that they have repaired 65 of the 75 main circuits and only after that they can get on to the secondary system.

Belco spokesperson Linda Smith said the technicians were working as fast as they could to restore power to the Island, but bad weather was slowing things down.

She said that the Caribbean crews would be mainly repairing the secondary system so that when the first system was fixed power could be restored faster.

She also said that the public needed to be reminded to unplug all major appliances, including air conditioners, in case of a power surge.

Bus routes re-opening

The Bus Services will be in operation again today the Government Information Service announce yesterday.

Route 6 bus service is running again between St. George's and St. David's.

The service will run at 15 minutes past the hour and will leave from Dennis' Hideaway at 20 minutes before the hour.

Routes 7 and 8 will also be running to Watford Bridge; Route 4 will run via Black Watch Pass to Spanish Point; Number 2 will run to Ord Road; and buses 10 and 11 only go as far as the Perfume Factory.

All employees are asked to report to work as per their usual schedule.

College closed till Monday

Students are being advised that The Bermuda College will not reopen until Monday, because inclement weather has hindered repairs and the clean up.

BI students asked to help out

Bermuda Institute students are advised that school will go in on Thursday and students are asked to wear their gym shirts instead of the full uniform.

Traffic light repairs

The Corporation of Hamilton has said that 18 sets of traffic lights around the city have been restored.

Corporation Secretary Roger Sheratt said they were working on ten further key spots and that technicians were flying in from the United Kingdom to help sort out some of the more difficult problems.

It will take a considerable time to complete the repairs as all the lights are computer operated.

Flights in yesterday

The Bermuda International Airport had seven flights come in and out yesterday and eight are expected today.

Airport General Manager James Howes said that the American Airlines flight will arrive at midday and will leave the Island at for New York at 1.35 p.m.

The US Airways flight will arrive at 12.35 p.m. and will fly to Philadelphia and leave the Island at 1.40 p.m. with another flight heading for Boston at 3 p.m.

Delta will fly to both Atlanta at 1.30 p.m. and to Boston at 5.00 p.m. today.

The British Airways flight will arrive earlier than usual at 3.45 p.m. and will leave at 6 p.m. because of the Causeway curfew.

Continental is coming in for the first time since the hurricane and flies to Newark at noon and at 3.15 p.m.

The Air Canada flight to Toronto will arrives at 1.35 p.m.

He said: "We are working at 50 percent of our full schedule and the technicians from Vancouver are busily working on the radio equipment and lights."

Emergency daycare opened

The Department of Youth and Sport is to provide daycare facilities for working parents with children.

A limited service will be provided at the Springfield Community Centre in Somerset between 8.30 a.m. and 6 p.m. at a cost of $10 a day.

Anyone interested should call the centre on 234-1275, but places will be made available on a first come, first served basis.

Repairs are being carried out to centres in Hamilton and St. George's and if they are complete by the end of the week, they, too, may be made available.

Flooding in Flatts

Works and Engineering staff were put to task yet again last night (Tues) after heavy flooding was reported in Flatts.

Police said leaves and foliage left in the road by Hurricane Fabian had blocked the drains, causing rain water to flood the roads around Flatts inlet.

Traffic managed to operate around the flooding after it was reported soon after 8.20 p.m..