A MOTHER-OF-THREE has hit out at Aquila Networks over the way the electricity supplier has handled the widespread power cuts across the county.

Sally Wesley, of Sinton Green, near Worcester, has been without lighting, heating or hot water since early on Sunday morning following the gales that hit the county at the weekend.

She claims whenever she has tried to reach the company, she either gets a recorded message, or the phone rings out.

"I'm a bit cheesed off. The problem is with Aquila, you can't get to anyone," she said.

"They put up this barrier. When you get through on the power loss helpline you get a recorded message.

"I didn't use the emergency line at first - I tried to be patient - but when it got to day four I rang the emergency number and let it ring for ages and no one picked it up.

Recorded message

"I've got washing to do and my son's got homework. I know we had high winds but five days is a farce. It's ridiculous."

Mrs Wesley said her area had not even been listed as one of those still without power on the company's recorded message yesterday.

She said power in the area came from a three-phase transformer and two phases were still on.

"All they need to do is press a switch - a local trip or over-loader - and it would be back on.

"Our neighbours have had power the whole time. It's not a matter of miles and miles of power cables fallen down all over the place. It's a quick-fix job. But you can't get through to them."

Lesley Newman, spokeswoman for Aquila Networks, apologised for the delays but said it was due to the sheer numbers of people the company had been dealing with since the storms.

"At the height of the storms we had 130,000 homes without power across the region," said Mrs Newman.

"People do need to keep trying the numbers.

"Large amounts of people are back on now which has eased things and we will be getting around to sorting out the areas still without power as soon as we can."

Customers with concerns should call the power loss helpline on 0845 7331 331.