CABLE thieves struck again in Cambourne on Friday, cutting telephone services to up to 1,200 homes for the second time in four weeks. The lines were disabled after the thieves stole 350m of underground cable from a site just half a mile from School L

CABLE thieves struck again in Cambourne on Friday, cutting telephone services to up to 1,200 homes for the second time in four weeks.

The lines were disabled after the thieves stole 350m of underground cable from a site just half a mile from School Lane.

Lines were restored on Sunday after engineers from BT worked throughout the weekend.

A mobile police station was sent to the village to offer reassure and assistance to residents.

Officers also urged friends, family and neighbours to check on vulnerable people.

A spokesman for BT, which has seen its installations repeatedly targeted in Cambridgeshire, said the company does take its security obligations very seriously.

He added: "We work closely with police and other authorities to counter crime and secure convictions and we are continually reviewing our procedures to ensure they are as effective as possible."

Just four weeks ago more than 1,000 homes in Cambourne were left without telephone lines after cables were stolen from close to the Caxton to Cambourne bypass.

And almost every month since October, telephone cable has been stolen and services disrupted to hundreds of homes in Cambridgeshire, including Alconbury Weston, Great Gidding and Great Staughton.

The latest theft in Cambourne was reported to police at about 11am on Friday.

Detective Inspector Andy Gipp said: "If anyone saw anything suspicious taking place in the last 24 hours on the roads near to the Cambourne area then please get in touch.

"Perhaps you saw what you thought were workmen operating at a small site or if you can recall seeing something strange."

INFORMATION: Contact police on 0845 4564564 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.