RESIDENTS at a sheltered housing complex in Haydon Wick will be left without their TV lifeline in four weeks time.

Around half the residents at the accommodation in Brook Dene Lodge, Haydon Wick lost their television signal when telecoms firm NTL shut off the analogue cable system on Wednesday.

Yesterday the signal was turned back on by NTL engineers following enquiries by the Evening Advertiser.

But residents were warned it would be switched off permanently in 28 days' time.

The analogue signal switch off is part of a Swindon-wide scheme.

NTL is in the process of installing new digital systems across the town, which will in turn replace the analogue cable system which the firm inherited when it began operations in the town.

It is now shutting down the old analogue cable system because they say it had become difficult to maintain.

According to NTL, letters should have been received by the residents warning them of the turn-off.

Muriel Dickson, 58, one of the residents said: "The television is a real lifeline to many of us in the sheltered accommodation.

"To have it suddenly turned off like they did was awful for us all.

"We received no letters at all. We are just pleased we now have a little more time to find a new way of watching TV."

NTL spokeswoman Susan Black said the infrastructure at the accommodation could not be replaced and recommended residents purchase an aerial, a Freeview box or a satellite system.

Anthony Osborne