RESIDENTS in two South Oxfordshire villages say they have been left without broadband for two weeks.

People in Lewknor and Aston Rowant say they have been forced to cope without internet and landlines while BT has tried to solve the problem.

But although the firm has said it doesn’t know the cause of the problem, it is planning to have new underground cables installed by early next week.

A spokesman said: “We are hoping to work through the weekend and have lines reconnected early next week.

“However, if we encounter further difficulties when digging up the cable this could extend the length of time it takes us to get everyone’s service back to normal.”

Resident Chris Foster, from Lewknor, said: “Some businesses have had a major problem, not being able to take credit cards, and children on their Easter holidays have not been able to do their homework.”

Mr Foster said he called BT about the problem last week but has been left frustrated by its lack of response.

He said: “People have tried contacting them but have got a different story every time.”

Julie Gordon, landlady of the Leathern Bottle pub in Lewknor, said she has had to turn customers away because she cannot accept debit card payments.

She said: “It’s just terrible how we’ve been treated, first of all they said it was going to be 48 hours, then they said April 2 and then April 10.

“It’s affecting the whole village.”