SOWERBY pensioner Margaret Hewison has two telephones in case of an emergency.

But the lifelines haven't been working for the past two weeks since a vehicle crashed into a lamp standard, which brought down the telephone line.

The community was also without electricity for several hours before the service was restored early on bank holiday Monday.

Mrs Hewison who lives in Front Street, Sowerby, and her 90 year old neighbour, have been waiting for BT to re-connect the line since bank holiday Sunday when the lamp standard outside Mrs Hewison's bungalow home was brought crashing to the ground.

Broadacres Housing Association has contacted BT and a concerned neighbour, Chris Purser, has rung them several times but the telephones are still dead.

"What is the point of having a life-line if it doesn't work," said Mrs Hewison who has difficulty walking. "Surely sheltered property like this should be given priority."

A repairman did arrive last week, but he decided a new telegraph pole was needed to take the cable higher to prevent future damage. He left, and no one has been back since.

Mr Purser said: "This really isn't on. These elderly people rely on the telephone. It isn't as though BT do not know about the problem."

A spokesman for BT said that it was more than a two-minute task to erect a new telephone pole but telephone lines at sheltered accommodation were usually given priority attention. "I will investigate the matter further," she said