SIXTEEN days after an attempt to steal BT phone lines, customers are still without a full service.

Damage was caused to underground phone cables in West Park, Mottingham on January 4 in an attempted theft.”

Hundreds of people were left without a phone connection for up to 10 days, and more than a fortnight later, some still do not have a full phone service.

Mr Arthur Griffiths the principal of Arthur Griffiths Associates in Mottingham is just one of the many people who have been affected.

Speaking to News Shopper he said: “Our consulting, structural engineering firm relies on the phone and the internet.

“Sixteen days on and I still do not have the full service of my phone line. I can make outgoing calls but the lines are crossed and I can’t receive calls.

“I am getting more and more angry as I am having to constantly chase BT. There seems to be very poor communication between their faults team and their engineers.”

A spokesman for BT said: “This has proved to be a difficult and time consuming repair.

“We are aware of some issues such as crossed lines which can happen when each line has to be reconnected individually.”

He added: “We are doing all we can to work through these faults as quickly as possible and apologise to those still affected.