The frustration of not-spot life in Suffolk

The frustration mobile phone not spots cause comes through even in the short comments people make when logging them on the British Chambers of Commerce website.

People talk of wandering round buildings, gardens and streets trying to get a signal and of whole communities without one.

A typical comment is: "The area in and around my home just outside Stowmarket is subject to a strange absence of mobile signal from any operator.

"Certainly no mobile data and voice is unusable . A few hundred yards towards town you can get 4G!"

One of several reports from Horringer said: "Voice communications break up and I have to walk around garden to send a text message."

For many there is not even the option of a different provider. A Lawshall resident said: "Almost non-existent service from all providers indoors and poor externally."

Some cannot escape the problem, with one reporting a not spot from home in Wickhambrook to work at Higham.

But it is not just a rural problem. A surprising number of not spot reports come from towns and even Ipswich city postcodes.

Complainants also talk of not spots on miles of busy roads, including the A14, while you cannot shout 'I'm in the train' into your phone between Diss and Ipswich.

More seriously even popular tourists spots, such as Southwold seafront, lack signals, with one person pointing out visitors to our county do not know where to go to get a signal in an emergency.

The potential personal impact is summed up in a comment from Barnham: "Can only get mobile reception in parts of garden which is extremely problematic in winter and for a disabled person."

Paul Simon of Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, said: "The sheer number of reported not-spots across Suffolk shows that this issue is having a considerable negative impact on many businesses, residents and visitors.

"The evidence being collected will be used to persuade mobile network operators, planning authorities and others to address voice and data not-spots as speedily as possible.

"Our aim is to ensure that Suffolk is not-spot free by 2020."

Report not spots on Twitter with the hashtag #ShareYourNotSpots or on the chamber website here .