A SUFFOLK farm is finally back on the phone today after being left isolated for a month because a telephone pole was put up on the wrong side of the road.

A SUFFOLK farm is finally back on the phone today after being left isolated for a month because a telephone pole was put up on the wrong side of the road.

Jon and Ann Tomkinson, of Punchards Farm, Rattlesden, were cut-off from their telephone, internet and fax line for more than four weeks at their busiest time of the year.

Problems started on July 3 when the old telephone line, which passed through the branches of a tree, failed.

BT tried to solve the problems quickly by sending workers out to erect a new pole - but an embarrassing mistake meant it was put up in the wrong place.

A temporary connection has now got the Tomkinsons back online while they wait for a new pole to be erected in the right place.

Mrs Tomkinson said: "It was all pretty hellish.

"All we wanted to do was pick up the telephone and give BT an earful but of course we couldn't do that. We felt powerless.

"It's an exceptionally busy time of the year for us and we didn't need the added strain."

The couple used mobile phones for vital calls but an expensive tariff meant they racked up a £100 bill.

To make matters worse the village's public telephone box only accepts 999 calls.

BT sent workers to the site yesterday after being contacted by The Evening Star and the Tomkinson's were re-connected by the evening.

A spokesman for BT said: "Unfortunately a pole siting proved to be incorrect and as a result a BT engineer went out to redo the plans to resolve the issue as soon as possible.

"We apologise to our customer for this situation."

The couple say not having access to the internet was almost as harrowing as being without a phone as a large number of orders for their cow's green top milk and cream come via e-mails.

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