A MOTHER is angry at communications giant BT after a phone problem which has lasted six weeks meant calling for an ambulance as her four-year-old son suffered a fit was “nearly impossible”.

Some homes and businesses in Battisford, near Stowmarket, have been left without the use of their landline phones and internet as BT engineers replace 100 metres of underground cabling to fix a fault.

Rachel Williams, 35, of Plantation Way, Battisford, said she panicked after her son Cameron, four, went into a fit at home on Saturday morning.

“I got my daughter, Mia, to call on her mobile, because our phone line has been down on and off for about six weeks,” she said. “But mobile phone coverage here is really poor and it took three minutes just for the operator to understand our address.

“All the time Cameron was having convulsions on the sofa and I was panicking. It took around 15 minutes for the ambulance to arrive but during that time we couldn’t hear the advice the phone paramedic was giving as the signal kept going. It was nearly impossible.

“Apparently she said the ambulance was on its way but we didn’t hear that. We were left in the dark and didn’t know what was happening.

“We are angry and upset. We could have easily been stuck.”

Cameron was found to have an ear infection which had caused a high temperature and given him convulsions. He was taken to hospital and discharged the next day.

Meanwhile, Claire Clark said her grandfather, Paul Elford, 67, of Bildeston Road, Ringshall, who has Crohn’s Disease and needs phone calls from doctors, has been severely affected.

Mrs Clark said: “He is extremely deaf and can’t use a mobile phone, but now he can’t make or receive any calls.

“BT have apologised and made us top priority, but they keep putting the date back for when they are going to fix it.”

MP David Ruffley said: “I sympathise with the Battisford residents and I have taken it up with the regional director of BT Openreach to get to the bottom of this.”

A BT spokesman said: “We would like to apologise for the extended nature of this repair.

“We have 13 residents that have lost service due to this cable problem. We are doing all we can to bring these works forward.”