BT fire hits internet service

Published: 1 April 2010
by TOM FOOT

BROADBAND and telephone connections were disrupted yesterday (Wednesday) following a major flood at British Telecom’s communications nerve centre.

Thousands of BT ­customers in Camden – including Chalk Farm, Swiss Cottage, Belsize Park and parts of Hampstead – were affected.

Thames Water blamed workmen for damaging the water supply and causing an electrical fire in the four-storey block in Marylebone.

A BT spokesman said: “Tens of thousands of customers in parts of north-west London may be experiencing a loss of broadband and/or ­telephone service. 

“Customers in other parts of the country may also be affected. As this is a complex incident we cannot accurately predict when all services will be restored.”

He advised anyone needing to contact the emergency services to “use a mobile phone or a friend or a neighbour’s working phone”.

London Fire Brigade attended the BT block in Bell Street at 7.30am.