PENSIONERS who rely on their telephones have blasted BT for taking more than three weeks to repair a fault in the New Forest.

Elderly Totton residents have had to buy mobile phones or arrange for relatives to stay with them until the fault is repaired.

The problem is thought to have affected about 20 homes in the Testwood Lane area, where residents include a high proportion of old folk.

These include widow Lilian Ross, 89, who has a heart condition and other health-related problems. Her daughter, Gloria Ellerker, is staying with her mother 24 hours a day in case she is taken ill and needs emergency medical help.

Mrs Ellerker said: "I've had to buy a mobile and arrange for all incoming calls to be redirected, but my mother can't use a mobile because she's too frail and her eyesight isn't very good.

"We've spent an awful lot of time and money trying to get an answer from BT.

"My husband is 73 and an amputee, but he's having to look after himself until the fault is repaired and I can return home."

Peter Sillett, 77, has also bought a mobile.

He said: "My wife and I are both getting on and have to contact the health service on occasion, but my landline has been out of action for three weeks and the telephone kiosk over the road was taken away months ago."

Mr Sillett's daughter, Anne Smith, of East Cowes, said: "It started when a neighbour's phone went faulty and dad reported it on his phone. A day or two later his own telephone broke down and he had to report it on a friend's phone. Since then he's been fobbed off with promises that the fault will be repaired 'soon'.

"My parents have had to buy a mobile - something they would never have considered before.

"BT have been given their mobile number on two occasions but have still not made contact either by mobile or post to keep them informed of progress.

"I think this is a despicable state of affairs." A BT spokesman said engineers were having to replace 85 metres of cable following a major underground fault.

He added: "We couldn't get to work straight away because there was a blockage in the ducting, which meant we had to get a contractor out to do a dig before we could install the cable.

"We do apologise for the delay, which was much longer than we would wish."

The spokesman said the service should be back to normal by tomorrow.