IT is a similar job to wrapping tape round a broken flex, but just a little bit more complex.

Engineers descended to the depths of the Irish sea to complete the first ever repair underwater repair to an underwater cable that links the Northern Ireland's electricity grid with the Scottish mainland.

Using a diving bell-style contraption to stay dry, the crew worked 82 feet underwater to unearth the cable from the seabed and repair the break.

The work, which took place 2.5 miles off the Scottish coast, was carried out by Dutch company N-Sea, whose UK base is in Aberdeen.

It was carried out on the Moyle Interconnector, a 500MW HVDC electrical cable running between converter stations at Ballycronan More in Islandmagee, County Antrim and Auchencrosh in Ayrshire.

N-Sea CEO Gerard Keser said: "The principle employed by is based on an incubator design which surrounds the cable section whilst providing a dry and conditioned repair option.

"We deployed our diving system along with one of our subsea support vessels, the Siem N-Sea, which allowed the cable to be repaired in its current position."

"We are proud to have been involved in this innovative project which truly showcases the capabilities of N-Sea and our products. We continually strive to spot and deploy pioneering technology for our clients in the offshore subsea industry, and are delighted that we have provided an efficient and effective solution for subsea repair challenges."