HOUSEHOLDERS were furious this week after workmen accidentally cut through a cable leaving them without phone lines.

BT workers rushed to Station Road and Enfield Road, Huncoat, where around 100 residents were cut off. BT worked around the clock in a bid to re-connect residents, several of whom were elderly people living in council bungalows.

The cable blunder is believed to have occured on a new housing development, off Lynwood Road.

A spokesman said: "The fault was caused when a third party went through an underground cable. We have worked through the weekend and this week to restore services.

"It is unfortunate when we suffer this kind of third party damage, which in this case has led to a painstaking job. We had to replace a whole length of underground cable to ensure there were no crossed lines."

Post master Geoff Parker, who runs the Huncoat Sub Post Office, said: "We expected the police to turn up as the phones are connected to our security guards."

Gary Mitchell, who runs the Station Road chippy, managed to field calls on his mobile.

He said: "We got our orders out on time. We are prepared for things like this."

But as the Observer went to press, furious resident Francis Duckett, of Enfield Road, was still waiting for his line to be reconnected. He said: "I have a poorly wife and relatives wanted to find out how she is. This is not good enough."