Landlines and internet restored after fire at Hemsworth exchange - as police investigate cause of blaze

The exchange, on Westfield Road, was badly damaged after a fire broke out on the site on Sunday evening.

It meant as many as 8,000 homes and businesses lost access to landlines and, in some cases, internet in the Hemsworth area yesterday, in an incident described as an "absolute nightmare" for the town.Sky and BT customers were among those affected, though mobile and fibre services continued to function as normal.

But BT has now confirmed that the majority of affected landlines have been restored, after a team of engineers worked through the night to repair the damage. Most broadband services have also been restored.

The telecommunications giant are also urging anyone with information on the blaze to contact West Yorkshire Police on 101.

A BT spokesperson said: “Despite this significant fire, engineers have worked through the night to reconnect the community. Most landline and all broadband services are now restored.

"We’re grateful for the prompt response of the emergency services and we’re sorry for any inconvenience.

"We’ll continue to repair the damage at the exchange and investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing. Anyone with information should contact the Police.”