ALL Kidderminster homes and businesses left without a phone connection after an arson attack last week have been reconnected.

About 700 lines were left dead following attacks on two BT electrical boxes in Walter Nash Road and Oldington Lane last Thursday.

Firefighters from Kidderminster and Stourport were called to tackle the blazes, believed to have been started by yobs using magazines and fuel.

The fire service was alerted to the first incident in the Birchen Coppice area just after midnight, with the second on the Oldington Trading Estate reported at about 12.35am.

Engineers from the telecommunication company fixed the final connection on Tuesday after starting the painstaking operation just hours after the blazes.

Emma Tennant, BT spokeswoman, described the attacks as "mindless" and said it was not yet known how much it had cost to fix the damage.

She added: "Obviously, as a company, we condemn the attacks. Unfortunately, we do have to put up with this kind of thing from time to time.

"The engineers have worked flat out to get the lines back and working. They have worked almost around the clock since it happened.

"Where it has been possible, we have tried to divert incoming calls from the landlines affected to either mobile phones or other designated landlines to help with the disruption."

Alec Mackie, spokesman for Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, said: "We do have to deal with incidents like this carried out by idiots. It is not an everyday event but it is certainly not uncommon. It does not make our job any easier."

West Mercia Police spokesman, Kerr Duncan, said: "The fire brigade attended the incidents, which are being treated as arson. The cost of the damage to the electrical boxes has not yet been established."

Kidderminster police have appealed for anyone with information about the incidents to contact them on 08457 444 888 or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.