PEOPLE in Broughton Gifford have been receiving calls and messages meant for their neighbours this week after their phone numbers were accidentally switched.

The problem arose when Openreach attempted to replace an old cable that holds the landlines to the village and replaced the individual wires leading to the houses incorrectly.

Sarah Korkus, of Newleaze Park, noticed her number had been switched with neighbour Mr Radley on Friday (Jan 15).

Mrs Korkus, 52, a part-time care worker, said: “It occurred on Friday morning but I did not realise until Friday afternoon when my friend rang me on Mr Radley’s number.

“She called him thinking it was me and very cleverly realised what had happened.

“I have been taking messages for Mr Radley who is in his 80s and had a long chat with a woman from Lifeline because they were trying to get hold of him.

“I have had to give them my number to call him and I have told the family to call Mr Radley to get in contact with me."

“Everyone I talk to about it finds it so funny and to be honest it has not been that bad. I like to talk to people on the phone anyway.

“I have left messages on a friend’s answer machine but obviously it was someone else’s. No idea where those messages have gone.

“I called them last Friday and some people have apparently had the problem since December 30.

“There are at least 14 people that I know who have the problem. One of my neighbours got a message on her answer machine for someone on the common on December 30.

“Some of the elderly people do not have mobile phones so they all rely on their landlines.”

A spokesman for Openreach said: “We recently had to replace an old cable that carried landlines to the village of Broughton Gifford.”

“Unfortunately a small number of residents are experiencing crossed lines after we replaced the old cable.

“We’re sorry for this and would like to reassure those that have been affected that our engineers are currently working on the fault and hope to restore full service by the end of the week.”

Mrs Korkus and Mr Radley’s phones were uncrossed at 1.30pm on Wednesday (Jan 20) and are now available to contact as usual.