TAKEN AT HAPPSIBURGH ON A BRIGHT AND WINDY DAY by David Stibbon

Damaged cable cuts off phone lines in Happisburgh and East Ruston

Monday, March 4, 2013
5:03 PM

Telephone and internet services to homes in the East Ruston and Happisburgh area were cut off for a week after an overhead cable was damaged.

The issue was reported to BT on Monday, February 25 and the problem which affected 13 properties was fixed today (Monday).

A BT spokesman said earlier today: “We suffered third party damage to an overhead cable. We attended the scene to plan a repair and it became clear that we needed additional hoisting equipment to get access. This was due on site today and we are aiming to carry out the replacement of overhead cabling to fully restore services today.”

Tim Thirst, a business consultant who lives between Happisburgh and East Ruston, said: “It did cause a lot of problems. I had to get reports to clients out by email, which meant driving to Stalham with a laptop where there was an internet signal.

“It has been a great inconvenience and it has been worrying for the older generation, many of whom rely on their telephones.”

He lives 200 yards from the damaged cable and said engineers spent just half an hour sorting out the problem.

Mr Thirst said the damage was caused by a roadside hedge trimmer that cut through the BT telephone cable on the side of a telegraph pole.