Some BT customers have been without a landline telephone for about two weeks due to a fault.

The company said a faulty underground cable had affected 56 households in Braintree.

Customer David Grice, of Queenborough Lane, said he was told 200 had been affected.

β€œIt seems crazy to me in this day and age we need to wait two weeks,” he said.

A BT spokesman said engineers could only work on the fault at night due to the location, thought to be in London Road.

The repairs were due to be completed this weekend.