Undisclosed fault leaves residents in hamlet near Bury St Edmunds without phone line

A 93-year-old man has been left without a phone or internet connection after his line was spontaneously disconnected.

Norman Gregory used to take his cordless landline phone to bed with him in case of an emergency, but has been left ‘vulnerable’ since his BT phone line was cut off without warning three weeks ago.

Recently he has also lost his internet connection, and he and several neighbours, in a hamlet near Bury St Edmunds, have yet to be reconnected.

His daughter in law, Wei Gregory, said: “I know he is anxious. He’s very capable and fit for his age, but he doesn’t have a car so the telephone is his quickest way of communicating in an emergency.

“The fact he doesn’t know when it is going to be up and running is quite worrying.

“There are a lot of elderly people in the area who are particularly vulnerable.”

A spokesman for BT said during an underground cable repair by Openreach, another fault had been uncovered.

Its repair requires the replacement of a 100-metre section of underground cable, and will affect around 20 lines.

The spokesman said: “Engineers will carry out the necessary repairs as soon as they have been given the go ahead for a temporary road closure and traffic lights.

“Openreach apologises for any inconvenience.”

He added BT could not say precisely when the lines will be back on until the road closure date had been agreed.