Thousands of New Brunswick Power customers spend Boxing Day in the dark

FREDERICTON - Thousands of people in New Brunswick were in the dark on Boxing Day after high winds downed trees and power lines.

NB Power spokeswoman Meghan Gerrish says roughly 8,000 customers were without power Friday morning in the Grand Falls and Woodstock areas after a tree came down on a transmission line.

Later Friday, about 4,500 customers were without power throughout the province because of high winds and downed trees.

The utility said most customers were expected to have power back by early Friday evening.