The accuracy over the distance of the cast impressed BT

The telephone line - belonging to an elderly customer - was brought down by falling trees but the location made conventional repairs impractical.

Angler Rob Danter was able to cast his line across trees in the disused and overgrown section of the river.

Linesmen then used the line to pull a sash line across and then the cable.

This was then attached to telegraph poles on either side of the river.

Mr Danter who is a match angler, managed to span the gap on his second attempt using a 6lb (2.7kg) line.

I was really impressed with the accuracy and distance that Rob got with the cast Chris Caddock, BT

"It was a fair distance - I was using a 100 yard (91.4m) line and there wasn't much left on the reel when I got it across," he said.

"It was a good idea. I think I could cast across any river in England if they need me to do it again."

A BT spokesman said the company had been looking for ways to resolve the problem as quickly as possible and without having to resort to an underground cable which would have cost thousands of pounds.

"We had considered using a remote-controlled helicopter, but nearby power lines ruled that out, and an archer, but the accuracy could not be guaranteed over 50 yards (45.7m)," Chris Caddock, Tewkesbury area operations manager said.