Your call could not be connected... Please try later...
Villagers have been tearing their hair out after losing mobile phone reception for more than a week.
Vodafone and O2 users at Little Walsingham, near Fakenham have had no signal for 10 days.
As well as locals and businesses in the quaint village, the issue has also affected visitors to its Shrine of Our Lady - one of two shrines in and around the village which attract tens of thousands of worshippers and pilgrims each year.
Networks say a faulty mast near the village, which has been damaged by recent rainfall, is responsible.
An engineer is due on site on Thursday to make repairs.
THE TEAROOM OWNER
Lack of signal has been more than a storm in a teacup for Sam Mitchell, who runs the Read and Digest Tearoom in a 16th century timber-framed building on the High Street.
"It's caused us problems due to the fact customers can't contact us to confirm their booking because their phones aren't working when they're in the area and if they're running late or if they have to cancel for some reason," she said.
"I've got staff who can't get in touch with us to let us know they can't work. One lady, her father's very ill and she can't get in touch with us because there's no phone signal and she only lives a mile and a half up the road.
"It's just a continual problem. We can't get in touch with people who are working here on the building because their phones aren't working."
THE DECORATOR
Painter Neil Green, who was up a ladder applying a fresh coat to the building, said his phone had had no signal since Monday, June 10.
"Work can't contact me or anything and we have these lone worker alerts to let them know if there's an accident.
"They rely on having a signal, so they don't work."
THE ESTATE
Vodafone-user Elizabeth Meth-Baker, from the Walsingham Estate, was trying to get a signal on Common Place.
"It has been absolutely fine for a significant amount of time and we were complacent, we thought we were in a hotspot and now we're in a not-spot," she said. "For 10 days there's been nothing.
"I tweeted Vodafone and they replied I should register for updates, but there's been no updates."
THE CATERING MANAGER
Pat Marshall, catering manager at the Shrine of our Lady, was also struggling.
"I can't get hold of any of my staff to tell them about changes to the rota," she said.
"I can't make any calls while I'm at work on my mobile and nor can my assistant.
"I'm on Vodafone, she's on O2. It's just really inconvenient and it needs to be sorted."
THE COUNCILLOR
Parish councillor Keith Tuck said lack of signal had been a problem across the area.
"It's not funny for local people, for businesses or pilgrims," he said.
"When pilgrims arrive they want to phone home and let their folks know they've got here safely.
WHAT DO THE NETWORKS SAY?
O2 said flooding had damaged its equipment meaning customers in the Walsingham area may experience issues with its services.
A spokesman said: "We apologise to residents in the Walsingham area who may be experiencing temporary issues with their services.
"An engineer is expected on site on Thursday and we are working to restore services as soon as possible.”
A spokesman for Vodafone said: "We’re sorry to our customers who were affected by issues with their services.
"We are working closely with our infrastructure partner, who own the mast, to restore services as quickly as possible. We encourage our customers to sign up to Network Checker to receive status updates regarding network issues."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel