Devon

In all the moaning and tub thumping I have done over the years about the lack of rural broadband this astonishing story stopped me dead in my tracks with just one question. Why!!!???It tells us

A broadband mast has been vandalised four times in four weeks, affecting thousands of people, according to an internet provider.

The latest attack on the mast near Barnstaple in north Devon happened last Saturday, said Airband.

Spokesman James Hyland said: “We share the frustration of the public and we are sorry for the disruption.”

The company, which is bringing broadband to rural areas of north Devon, said it had informed the police.

Fibre optic cable delivering “essential ultrafast broadband connectivity to the rural communities of north Devon” had been cut through, Mr Hyland said.

Local residents have been “severed” from the wider broadband network, which he said was a “real shame as many businesses and residents are more reliant on this service than ever with the current climate”.

“This is now part of an ongoing criminal investigation,” Mr Hyland said. “Be assured that we’re working with all local agencies to get this sorted once and for all.”

He said it was not clear why the mast, which has no 5G links, had been targeted.

Police said they believed the latest attack happened between 14:30 BST on 16 September and 08:40 on 18 September on Mill Road in Barnstaple.

They said a report of criminal damage had been made after an “unknown implement” was used to damage broadband cabling.

Attacks on 5G masts in the UK have been fuelled by conspiracy theories wrongly linking 5G and coronavirus.