WITCHFORD residents were left cut off for almost 24 hours after thieves stole hundreds of pounds worth of underground phone cable.

Police believe the theft took place sometime between 9pm on December 29 and 12.30pm the following day, with about 230 metres of copper cable stripped out from a terminal on Ely Road, near the new recycling centre.

About 600 villagers were left without a working phone line or internet access for a day while engineers were rushed out to deal with the problem.

Officers believe thieves made off with more than �1,000 worth of cabling and are urging anyone with information to contact them on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.