HUNDREDS of families in Aldbourne are being urged to join a mass lobby to persuade British Gas to pay out compensation to those who were left without power for three days during one of last winter's coldest periods.

After seven months without any offer of compensation, villagers have decided to form a campaign group in the hope of persuading Britain's biggest gas supplier to follow the lead of some of the smaller companies, and pay up.

If British Gas refuses to pay compensation, villagers say the group will consider taking legal action to try to force the company to stump up.

Chris McGowan, who lives in Marlborough Road, and who has agreed to head the group, said the British Gas case that it was not responsible because it did not cause the breach in supply, had been weakened by other gas companies paying out compensation without even being asked.

Mr McGowan agreed to chair the village action group after being approached by parish council chairman Chris Humphries, who is a district and county councillor for Aldbourne.

He said: "Aldbourne Parish Council felt it was something a local government body could not get themselves involved in."

Letters have now been sent to all 700 homes in the parish inviting residents to join what has become known as the Aldbourne Gas Claim 2000.

The letter states: "British Gas say they did not burst the main, so why are they liable? Sounds plausible, but where does that leave Aldbourne? We buy from British Gas who buy from Transco, who own the pipe that Fujitsu broke. Under law of contract, Aldbourne residents have no line of action against Transco or Fujitsu, only the party they are in contract with, British Gas.

"Some villagers buy their gas from a different supplier also supplied by Transco, which has realised this and already paid compensation. British Gas should offer compensation now rather than wait to see if Fujitsu compensate Transco."

The letter states that while many villagers feel they do not have time to pursue claims they can leave it to the united parish claim if they register details.

Coun Humphries said there was a lot of concern over the British Gas delay in paying compensation.

"I think the way the company has treated gas consumers is awful and it has really left its customers with no alternative but to take united action," he said.

On Tuesday, a spokesman for British Gas Trading said negotiations were still taking place between suppliers Transco, themselves and Fujitsu whose sub-contractors damaged the gas main serving the Aldbourne, Marlborough, Hungerford area while laying a piped TV cable.

The spokesman said: "We wrote to all of our customers on May 30 saying these discussions may take time to resolve."