VILLAGERS in Bishopstone were left upset after beingcut off by British Telecom for more than two weeks.

Faults with the cables to some properties in the village meant that residents were unable to make or receive any calls in the area, which has no mobile telephone reception.

Anne and Alan Stutchbury were left desperate for information after they heard that their two young grandchildren had been taken to hospital in Korea.

"We knew they were sick with a virus and on drips but we couldn't find out any information because the phone wasn't working," said Mrs Stutchbury.

"We had to go out to make endless calls from the mobile to BT, but it felt as if we were being fobbed off.

"It was very distressing because we were so worried about our grandchildren, but they said it could be weeks before the line was fixed. Luckily, the children are alright and were out of hospital after a couple of days, but it is very shoddy of BT to leave people in a remote area without a telephone for so long."

Alix Ricketts, who also lives in the village, said she spent lots of time, effort and money trying to get the problem fixed. She said: "I spent hours and hours attempting to get this sorted - I think it's disgusting."

"I've never heard of people being left without a telephone line for so long and the fact that mobiles don't work in the valley makes it so much worse.

"I worry about our elderly neighbours who rely on the telephone. There is an elderly man in the village who was waiting for a call about a hospital appointment.

"We explained how important this is to BT but we just got passed from person to person and they didn't seem to be treating the problem with any urgency."

Spokesman for BT Jason Mann said: "The problem in Bishopstone was first reported to us on March 18 and we have had 11 reports of the problem.

"We would like to apologise to our customers for the delay.

"This was a major problem, which involved replacing 185m of old cable."

Telephone lines in the village were finally reconnected at the end of last week.