BT once coined the phrase ‘it’s good to talk’.

But for Colchester resident Ron Douglas, who has been without a landline for 70 days, it seems it to be long been forgotten.

The 84-year-old, of Norfolk Crescent, Colchester, first contacted BT about his phone on June 16 after it developed a crackly line.

He said: “I had a crackly line and BT sent out Openreach to check my phone. “The next day they disconnected it and since then I have been calling them to get an update.”

In order to fix the problem, which only he is experiencing, the road needs to be dug up and a new 12 metre cable must be laid.

However BT has been unable to work out a date for the repairs to start.

With the help of Colchester councillor Dave Harris (Lab), Mr Douglas has been contacting the people responsible time and time again for answers.

He said: “Surely there is some sort of procedure where a date for works to start is fixed.

“I have since had a letter on August 20 saying it will be as soon as possible.”

The president of the National Pensioners’ Convention, added: “I’m sick and tired of calling BT at my own expense to get a date to start the work.”

BT apologised for the delay, citing difficulty in arranging a date and a run of lane closures in an area of regular traffic.

there is cabling work required which passes a traffic area. They said this will take some time to arrange and the work will then take a couple of days.

Dave Harris said: “I think the current situation is so confusing given the amount of stories we have been told from BT. It’s so wrong to leave a man like that with no phone, it’s ridiculous.

“I’m frustrated for the man, Ron is the victim of their incompetence.”

A BT spokesman said: “We’re very sorry for the delay in repairing Mr Douglas’ phone line.

“This complex fault has required Openreach engineers to build new underground chambers and to make use of traffic management.

“We will work with Openreach to ensure the phone line is reconnected as soon as possible.”

A spokesman for Essex Highways said: “There are BT repairs scheduled for September 7 to 13 on Broadlands Way, which may be the relevant works.

“BT had applied for previous dates for these works, which were granted a permit by Essex Highways.

“BT then postponed to new dates, which were also granted a permit.”