AN 89-year-old pensioner with a heart condition has been reconnected after being cut off by NTL.

And her family is now waiting to see if they will receive compensation.

Jane Parkes, who lives with her daughter and son-in-law in Cayenne Park, Moredon was without the phone for ten days over Christmas.

The communications company has apologised for its mistake, which left Mrs Parkes unable to use a warning pendant she has in case of an emergency.

Her son-in-law Kenneth Kiley, 62, a civil servant, said: "The worry it caused ruined our Christmas. My mother-in-law relies on the telephone as a lifeline."

Mrs Parke is dependent on a scheme called Aid Call, run by an independent company, which uses the telephone line to alert a call centre when a button is pressed in an emergency.

Mr Kiley and his wife Marion, 61, a nurse, said they were worried in case Mrs Parkes was unable to call for help while they were out.

NTL spokesperson Susan Black said at the time: "It was a technical fault which has now been rectified. We apologise for any inconvenience caused."