Charlbury couple Bill and Ann Allen are furious with BT for failing to fix their phone after it was cut off during violent storms more than ten days ago.

Calls are being transferred to their mobile phone but Mrs Allen has hearing problems and needs a specially-adapted hand set, and they cannot use their fax machine.

A severe electrical storm on August 25 caused problems with telephones and electricity in the Charlbury area. The Allens live on a farm on the edge of the town on the Woodstock Road.

Mr Allen said: "Engineers came out last week and reconnected the main farmhouse, but our phone is still not working.

"When we reported it again they first said it would be next Monday before they could come back though they now say it will be Thursday.

"But that is not good enough. We work as scorers for horse trials and it is Blenheim Horse trials this week.

"This is costing me a fortune in mobile phone calls and I am having to pay to send faxes. It's really not on."

BT spokesman Gerard Bithell said: "We are having to deal with a backlog caused by the storms. We are trying very hard to get everyone reconnected as soon as possible."