Cable theft causes 'extensive' internet disruption

The theft of copper cable and the cutting of fibre cables has caused extensive disruption to online services across Bedfordshire.

Infrastructure provider Openreach said the theft was on Luton Road, near Toddington.

A spokesperson said engineers were working to restore services. The road has been closed.

Bedfordshire Police said it was investigating after receiving reports of criminal damage at about 11:30 GMT on Thursday.

Openreach asked people experiencing issues to contact their service providers to report faults.

It said: "Criminals badly damaged our broadband network on Luton Road on Thursday, stealing copper cable, cutting fibre cables and disrupting broadband to people living nearby."

Some customers said they had been told the problem might not be fixed until Monday morning. There are reports the disruption started at about 02:00 GMT on Thursday.

The BBC believes the areas mostly impacted are Harlington, Toddington, Chalton and Tebworth.

National Highways said its overhead gantry signs between junctions 12 and 13 on the M1 had been affected.

A spokesperson said: "We continue to liaise with the police and are working to restore the technology as quickly as possible."

They said increased patrols would continue on that stretch of the motorway in the meantime.

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