A CRASH at Little Somerford left 19 residents at Hill House unable to telephone relatives for a week.

The telephone blackout occurred when a Peugeot 306 hit a pole opposite the home on the B4042 Malmesbury to Wootton Bassett road at midnight on March 8.

The driver was freed unhurt from the wreckage, but police closed the road for several hours.

Home owner David Lyne said BT had to replace the pole, but work could not start until the end of the week because new fittings had to be located.

BT spokesman Jason Mann said: "The pole had to be replaced because of regulations in terms of the height of overhead lines."

Home owner David Lyne said the phone blackout had caused extensive problems.

He said most of the residents have phones in their rooms with their own number, and worried relatives called the home when they could not get through. The home had to have its number diverted to a mobile phone.

Mr Lyne said it had been difficult with only one phone for everyone, and to add to the difficulties the reception had been poor making long conversations a problem.

Resident Joyce Oates, 82, said she was unable to call her daughter Carol McLean for a week.

"I shall be grateful to contact my friends who haven't been able to contact me on my number, and who don't know the main number," she said.

The phone lines were restored last Friday.