CABLE thieves left hundreds of people in north-west Huntingdonshire without phone lines for the third time in four months. Thieves stole 500 metres of cabling from Great Gidding in the early hours of Wednesday, January 2. Homes in Great Gidding and Steepl

CABLE thieves left hundreds of people in north-west Huntingdonshire without phone lines for the third time in four months.

Thieves stole 500 metres of cabling from Great Gidding in the early hours of Wednesday, January 2.

Homes in Great Gidding and Steeple Gidding were left without telephone lines for around 24 hours as a result of the theft.

Villagers praised British Telecom for the speed with which services were restored and police, who set up a mobile police station in the village hall and stepped up patrols.

In October and December last year thieves struck in Alconbury Weston, leaving homes and businesses cut off on both occasions.

INFORMATION: Anyone with information on the theft, which was reported at 3.26am, should contact Cambridgeshire police 0845 456 4564.