FURIOUS residents at a new development in Cam have been without a phone and internet connection since January.

A total of 37 people in Strawberry Field are affected and they are irate with BT for failing to restore service.

Some have had to buy mobile phones while others have had to use cafés and other businesses for Wi-Fi.

Simon Hudd, 43, and his partner Jonathan Rodriguez, 35, were the first to move into Strawberry Field on January 16 – the day their provider Sky told them their connection would be established.

Since then the pair have had their connection date repeatedly pushed back, leaving them frustrated and unable to work from home as planned.

Jonathan, who is originally from Spain, has had difficulty contacting family in his home country.

“On the morning of moving in we were told we couldn’t be connected and since then we’ve just been trying to ascertain what the issue is,” said Simon. “BT Openreach won’t speak to us directly, only our provider, so we’ve been having conversations through Sky all this time.

“Around that time we could see Openreach engineers coming in and out to all the different houses so we knew very quickly there was a big issue.”

Simon said there has been a "lack of communication” and John added: “BT has just been coming out with a range of excuses, and when they run out they just start over again.

“It’s frustrating because of what you hear on the news about government incentives to have everyone connected. Having an internet connection isn’t a luxury anymore.”

Peter and Sandra Solomon moved in the road from Simon and John in March.

The couple did not have a mobile and had to buy one to remain in touch with friends, family, and contact BT for updates on the situation.

Peter, 67, said: “Apparently there has been no connection since before Christmas and we’re nearly in August now. We got the mobile but it’s costing us a fortune – I spent £15 on one call to BT.

“We’ve been with BT for 30 years and have always had a landline. This is the thanks we get. I don’t think anybody in a position of power even knows what’s going on.

“And you never know what could happen. If there was an emergency and we didn’t have the mobile we wouldn’t be able to do anything.”

MP for the Stroud district Neil Carmichael has given his support to the residents of Strawberry Field, writing a letter to BT, Sky and Newland Homes.

“This matter is of the utmost urgency. It is completely unacceptable that this issue remains unresolved after all this time, and that each agency are seemingly blaming one another for the lack of work and action.

“I would gladly host a meeting between all agencies and my constituents to ensure this shambolic situation can be drawn to a satisfactory close.”

Tim Sergeant is an associate director with Newland Homes and has ruled out any involvement from their side.

He told the Gazette: “We get paid by BT to put ducting from the site leading to the main access road. We have done that and are now waiting for them to run their cabling through.

“However, they have been unable to get their own cables through their own ducts to reach ours.

“We have every sympathy with residents but it is completely out of our hands.”

Despite multiple attempts to contact BT for a statement the Gazette has received no response.