BRITISH Telecom has been hit in the pocket as a council drive to protect motorists from shoddy road repairs moves up a gear.

The company was fined and ordered to pay costs totalling £41,400 at Bromley Magistrates' Court for 49 offences under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991.

The Bromley Council prosecution marked the fourth BT court appearance in Bromley in as many years more than any other utility company.

The firm admitted 11 similar offences in November last year, 24 more in September 2002 and a further six in January 2001, costing another £37,550 in the process.

The council's executive member for the environment Councillor George Taylor said: "We are calling on BT to ensure it carries out proper and legal repairs on our roads. Surely this is not too much to ask?

"We are disappointed we have had to take this legal action.

"We will continue to use every means at our disposal to make utility companies like BT repair our roads safely and to the required standard."

The case was brought because of poor workmanship and the use of incorrect materials used to repair holes which BT had made.

BT also failed to let the council know where it was working, so the council was unable to co-ordinate the work with other companies' operations or with council road repairs.

Utility companies are legally obliged to inform a local authority of works which allows co-ordination to take place so traffic disruption is minimised.

Other charges related to the lack of barriers and signs around the BT excavations, which could have caused dangers to pedestrians and drivers.

Residents can report concerns about utility roadworks to the council's streets works manager, David Lambert, on 020 8313 4933.