Cable damage causes crossed lines

BT said its engineers were working "flat out" to fix the problem

Up to 40 people in Hampshire have been left with crossed telephone lines after thieves attempted to steal copper cables from a junction box.

BT managed to reconnect about 700 residents on Sunday after the cable was damaged in Fareham Road, Gosport, last Wednesday.

But when the line was restored, up to 40 people were left with crossed lines and receiving unwanted calls.

BT apologised and said engineers were working "flat out" to fix the problem.

Resident Chris Clark, 65, of Brookers Lane, said: "It all happened last week when my wife phoned me up and said 'our line is dead'.

We had engineers out working all weekend, 24 hours-a-day, in horrendous weather trying to pull out the damaged cabling Emma Littlejohn, BT spokeswoman

"But when I was reconnected on Sunday I thought I'd ring my number from my mobile but it didn't ring.

"Then when I rang my mobile from my home number it came on the display and was a completely different phone number.

"I phoned my number again and it got through to a lady.

"I can phone out but we can't get calls in, I'm worried the calls are going on somebody else's bill."

He said the phone line went dead again on Tuesday.

Emma Littlejohn, BT spokeswoman, said: "We had engineers out working all weekend, 24 hours-a-day, in horrendous weather trying to pull out the damaged cabling.

"We've restored phone lines to most people but unfortunately there are a number of crossed lines.

"We are very sorry for the problem and our engineers are still at the site working flat out to rectify it."

She added anyone with any billing concerns should contact their service provider.

Police appealed for anyone who saw anything suspicious in Fareham Road at about 1000 BST on 3 September when the cable was damaged to come forward.