An agricultural business in east Suffolk has complained about poor treatment from its internet service provider after it was left offline for more than a month.

DE Keeble in Blaxhall, near Snape, reported the fault to BT on January 6, but it was not until Tuesday - five weeks later – that it was reconnected.

BT has apologised for the inconvenience and explained the problem had arisen from a faulty section of cabling, which has since been successfully replaced.

Linda Keeble, who works for the firm with her husband Derek, said she welcomed the return in service but felt it was unfortunate that it required a call to the EADT before any action was taken.

“It just felt like we were thought of as a insignificant little business and nobody cared about getting our problem sorted,” she added. “But as soon as the paper got involved this manager called from Edinburgh and said he would personally deal with it – he was ringing me nearly every day.”

Mrs Keeble said while the internet was down the company, which provides agricultural contracts and employees, faced great difficulties making payments, receiving orders and paying its own staff.

“It was very frustrating,” she said. “I was at my wit’s end.”

Since the internet has been reconnected, Mrs Keeble has been told she can also sign up for a fibre-optic broadband connection.

A BT spokesman said: “We are sorry for the inconvenience caused by this fault. We have been in contact with Mrs Keeble to apologise directly.”