THE owner of a family-run business in Exeter fears ongoing phone problems are driving customers away.

Since last Wednesday, Amos Lighting has been unable to receive incoming calls at its offices and showroom in Bridford Road, Marsh Barton.

Owner David Amos said: "We can dial out but our customers can't contact us. It's very worrying and very frustrating.

"This could be costing us business. We receive 75 to 100 calls per day. Of those, probably half are from existing contacts and half are new people or businesses coming to us fresh.

"So since this started I estimate there have been about 200 calls we have just not managed to get from people who are not known to us.

"And worse than that, if it's a customer who has paid a deposit or paid for some goods and they ring up to ask a question, they might think we have gone out of business."

The company's phone service provider, Bluebell Telecom, has been trying to get the problem fixed, so far without success.

"It's absolutely maddening," said Mr Amos. "I'm entirely in someone else's hands. They say they're trying to put it right, but they haven't been able to give us a firm date when our phones will be working again."

A spokesman for Newcastle's Bluebell Telecom said: "Amos Lighting has been a valued customer for 18 months. The fault is extremely unusual, relating to a problem within the telephone network of their previous telecoms supplier.

"We are aware of the inconvenience this is causing and are working hard to resolve it as quickly as possible."