BT Blackout Angers Residents

1.40.03pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 4th Aug 2006

Several hundred homes in Twickenham have been cut off from telecommunications, including emergency Carline services for the elderly and disabled residents, while BT have been "extremely dilatory" in getting on with repairs according to Vincent Cable MP. His office has been working with Cllr Piers Allen to demand an acceleration of repair work.

He said "Residents have reported cases of elderly people being taken ill and unable to call for help. The Council has been reluctant to become involved despite the Careline failure and residents are having to fend for themselves with mobile phones. This is a very poor advertisement for BT which has not won any friends."