VILLAGERS in the north of the Forest of Dean have been reporting that their mobile phone signals have disappeared – with little information available as to when it may return.

Residents in Upper, Central and Lower Lydbrook, Joys Green, Chamomile Green, Worrall Hill and Ruardean, have reported that their mobile phones have fallen dead, with no signal strength whatsoever being displayed on their phones.

The problems appear to have started last Wednesday, when mobile phone users across the northern Forest area began to report that their signals had failed.

One Joy’s Green resident, Bob Burrell, told the Review: “This is the second time this year that my Vodaphone signal has vanished. It happened back in April, and they took five weeks to bring it back.”

Mr Burrell works as a part-time taxi driver in Herefordshire, and has no BT landline, instead relying on his mobile phone for work and family contacts, which is causing him anxiety and stress. He said: “It is impossible fo me to get work calls now, so I have to drive almost to Coleford to get any signal. It’s made worse by the fact that our grand-daughter attends a special needs school, and, as her mum works, we are the direct contact if there are any issues with her. Now the Vodafone signal has failed, we have had to give the school our neighbours landline number, but that relies on whether she happens to be in when they call.

“The Vodafone customer care is a joke, and they can take, literally, hours to answer the phone, and then they cut you off. The ‘live chat’ on the website doesn’t work, and their Facbook page is full of really angry comments from their less than happy customers.”

Vodafone had updated their website on Monday of this week, with their Network Checker page displaying an exclamation mark on the map, at the site of the Joy’s Green transmitter, which is believed to be the cause of the signal problems.

The accompanying text read: “We’re aware of some network issues in your area right now.

“We’re trying to fix a network issue which might be affecting calls coverage. It’s now being investigated.”