VILLAGERS suffered a communications ‘nightmare’ last month that could have put them ‘in a life or death’ situation.

Residents and businesses in Longhope say their landlines had a buzzing noise which made talking impossible.

But despite complaints to the TalkTalk company, which they were connected through, they were left to fend for themselves.

Frustrated businessman Lee Haines, who runs Longhope Motor Services on Church Road, said he even told TalkTalk he would not pay his direct debit until his services were fixed, adding he would ‘see them in court’.

•To find out more see the full article in this week’s Forester newspaper, out now.