Residents of Derry Hill have been without access to a phone line for nearly three weeks after a heavy storm and lightning strikes damaged lines in the area.

Joy Williams, 75, and her husband Peter Williams, 81, of Devizes Road, have been stuck without the use of their phone since the night of Thursday, September 18.

Many other residents along the road have been without a phone or internet access, including an elderly neighbour who relies on the internet to do her weekly shopping.

Mrs Williams said: “It’s absolutely dreadful, we were told there was an 18 minute wait, on a mobile phone, imagine how much that is going to cost.

“There’s quite a few elderly residents, if they had to call the ambulance or the doctors...not everyone has a mobile.

“It’s disgraceful; we’ve been trying and trying to get hold of BT without success. I’m not at all impressed with BT; they could have at least put a notice up.”

Mrs Williams also said she’s been without a phone for three months in the past.

BT Openreach confirmed that lightning strikes had caused damage to the cable that serves premises on Devizes Road and that approximately ten faults had been reported as a result of the incident.

A spokesperson for Openreach said: “It could be that some users have either not reported a fault, or more likely, have not been affected as lightning damage is very hit and miss, difficult to locate and sometimes only damages part of a cable.

“Lightning strikes to cables can also be very challenging to fix as it can cause damage in multiple places.

“We would like to reassure our customers that this matter has been made a priority and will look to repair the damaged cable as soon as possible. Compensation as a result of this lightning damage is matter for each individual service provider.”