RESIDENTS of Stobo are rejoicing as BT finally reconnected their broadband after two weeks.

Hundreds of local homeowners and businesses reported the loss of internet service on Friday May 29.

But it took up to a fortnight before BT admitted fault and figured out the problem.

By this time several computer users had shelled out for new equipment and servicing after being told that the problem lay with them.

Others were told repeatedly by BT customer service staff that there was in fact nothing wrong with the service.

Users stretching from Stobo to as far south as Bortwick Bray near Selkirk were left exasperated by BT"s lack of clear communication and understanding on the matter.

Stobo resident, David Lloyd Hudson, works from home as an independent financial advisor.

He said: 'It"s been absolutely impossible to run a business during this time. How would BT feel if i closed them down for up to two weeks?

'Myself and my neighbours made repeated calls to BT and it seemed to us all that no-one there joined up the dots and thought "We"ve got a big problem here." 'If this was Edinburgh it would have been fixed in hours.' Kay Pringle, from Dawyck, also works from home as a commercial writer and relies heavily on having internet access.

She said: 'BT engineers came out on umpteen occasions as a sort of token gesture and declared each time that the line was fine when clearly it wasn"t.

'There seemed to be no clear strategy on how to deal with the problem. People understand that things break but at least treat them with some respect and be honest.' Kay"s neighbour, Angela Boak, suffers from Hyper Mobility Syndrome and is registered disabled.

She said: 'I suffer a lot from joint pain due to my condition and was forced to spend hours on the phone to BT"s customer services in India to just get fobbbed off each time.

'They just wouldn"t listen to us at first and when they eventually realised that there was something up wouldn"t tell us anything.' The Peeblesshire News contacted BT on Tuesday June 9 to ask what the problem was and how long it would take to fix it - only to be told that they had no clue regarding either.

Two days later and after much probing they admitted that the problem in fact stemmed from technical faults within their own exchanges.

A BT spokesperson said: 'We recognise and apologise to customers who may have experienced broadband problems around the Stobo exchange area. Our engineers ran checks to attempt to identify and resolve the problem.

'Our engineers ran checks to attempt to identify the problem and they found it to lie with several ATM cards within the processor in the exchange which have now been replaced.' Local MSP, Jeremy Purvis, ironically was chair of a summit to discuss improving digital connectivity in the Borders on Wednesday.

He has slammed BT"s handling of the affair which he believes would have been markedly different if Stobo were not a rural area.

He said: 'I was made aware of this matter and relayed it directly to the BT powers that be on Wednesday. People are justifiably angry with the length of time and lack of communication on this matter.

'I believe that, as a result of Stobo being a rural area, this matter was not flagged up as it should have been which is unacceptable.

'I have asked for a report from BT as to why it took so long to rectify the problem and I have also been in contact with OFCOM to stress that rural customers should have the same service and speed of service as elsewhere in the country.

'I think this issue is critical to our economy and the revitalisation of our rural areas.' Local Tweeddale MP David Mundell echoed this view.

He said: 'This situation has been completely unacceptable. I was made aware of the problems in Stobo last Thursday and have made daily calls to BT to find out their progress in resolving this.

'This has caused great inconvenienece to local householders and also local businesses who rely on email and websites for their business.'