AROUND 40,000 homes and businesses were without phone lines yesterday (Wednesday, May 28) due to a power failure.
Power to Worthing's central BT telephone exchange failed at about 2pm, leaving homes and busineses, including the Herald and Worthing Town Hall, without any lines.
Most of the telephone lines were restored by 10pm that evening, but according to BT on today (Thursday, May 29), the exchange was being run on generators and BT was working closely with EDF Energy to restore full power.
Emma Littlejohn, of BT, said: "The mains power to the exchange failed and we have been working closely with EDF Energy to restore full power.
"We apologise for the inconvenience caused."
Telephones lines at the Town Hall are still not working properly today (Thursday, May 29).
The main Town Hall telephone number, 01903 239999, is still not working.
There is also an intermittent fault on the direct dial telephone numbers and calls disconnect after 20 seconds.
Wendy Knight, of the Town Hall, said: "Obviously, this situation is out of our control, but nevertheless we apologise to our 800 or so customers who call us everyday and who haven't been able to get through to us during the last 24 hours.
"The situation is getting better but isn't completely resolved yet.
"If customers have access to the internet they could find out about our services on
www.worthing.gov.uk which also offers an email facility"
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