76 workers are taken off North Sea oil platform

Scores of workers were removed from a North Sea oil platform after a power loss.

The coastguard was alerted to the issue on the Bruce installation, east of Shetland, just after 8pm on Thursday.

A total of 76 people from the 121 on board were removed, with 45 workers staying to restore power.

A coastguard spokesman said rescue helicopters were “tasked to partially down-man the platform”, adding: “Seventy-six nonessential personnel were transferred overnight by helicopter to other platforms in the area.”