Vineyard without broadband five weeks after storm

A family run vineyard and orchard is still relying on mobile data to operate after delays getting reconnected to broadband internet five weeks after Storm Goretti.

Polgoon Vineyard in Penzance has been using mobile data to operate tills and take online orders since the storm in January which left almost 30,000 households without internet.

Owner John Coulson said it had been a "problem" for the business and he "can't seem to get anywhere" with BT Openreach who supply the connection.

A spokesperson for the internet supplier said repairs to the connection had started but "civil engineering" was needed to complete the work.

"Obviously our tills are down because we can't connect through and the phone line's down, it's a problem," said Coulson.

"There's about six houses here at Polgoon and we're all in the same boat but obviously as it's a business, it's more serious for us.

"We've been told that we can't get any compensation," he added.

A spokesperson for BT Openreach said there was "an outstanding issue" in the area "impacting around a dozen premises" which it had "escalated".

"All the new telegraph poles are stood but the team couldn't complete the aerial cabling due to damage to an underground box which requires civil engineering," it said.

Coulson added trees that fell during the storm had also damaged the property.

"We've got a tree that's come down that fell over the vineyard damaging some of the vines," he said.

"Also at the back we've got another tree that's come down on top of the polytunnels."

Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.