Work to install new street lights along Rydal Drive, Morley was being done when a cable was severed.

Up to 100 BT customers could have been affected by the incident which left them unable to use phones or the internet from 3.15pm to 8.45pm on Monday.

Resident Chris Oxley, 46, a journalist, said: "It's good to have the new street lamps, as the lighting was previously poor in our road.

"But, it was annoying to be without phones and internet for all that time."

The lighting project was part of a £100m five-year Leeds City Council programme across the city.

Mr Oxley said: "I hope they take more care when they're putting in the rest of the lights in the city."

He spoke to BT engineers who said the incident could have affected up to 100 BT customers.

Jason Mann, from BT, said there had been 15 complaints from customers who reported the damage – but said there could have been many more.

"It appears there was accidental damage by a third party. We had engineers out working on it until the repair was completed. We had to replace a small section of damaged cable and it was done by 8.45pm."

A city council spokesman said: "While installing street lights along Rydal Drive in Morley contractors mistakenly dug through a BT telephone cable.

"This was immediately reported to BT so the damage could be repaired and SEC, which is installing the new lights, launched an investigation into the cause.

"Everything is done to minimise this type of accident but unfortunately, because a lot of the work is carried out underground, they do happen occasionally.

"We apologise to local people for any inconvenience that may have been caused."

The council is replacing its ageing lighting stock with new, brighter and more energy-efficient street lights.

It is the largest single replacement street lighting project in the country.

Over the next five years, 80 per cent of lampposts in the city will be replaced.



jo.rostron@ypn.co.uk