A CARE company boss whose phone lines were cut by mindless vandals says the culprits are idiots for thinking 5G is causing the coronavirus.

Majestic Care North West, a domiciliary care provider which is currently providing vital end-of-life care to those in need during the coronavirus pandemic, was left with no broadband or phone line following a deliberate attack on the BT phone cables on Hargreaves Street, Burnley, in the early hours of last Friday morning.

Alan Cooper, who runs Majestic Care, said vandals had also cut the cables at two other locations in Burnley town centre, and after speaking with BT Openreach, believes the lines were sabotaged by people who think the roll-out of 5G is the cause of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr Cooper said: “The main cables to our offices were completely cut, probably with the use of an axe, as there’s no way you could cut those cables with snippers, they’re too thick.

“We provide end-of-life and continuing healthcare on behalf of the NHS and these care services are vital to people, and cannot be late or missed.

“Currently, we’re providing essential healthcare for several Covid-19 patients, and as a result of this idiocy, we were left with serious communication problems between care-co-ordinators and support workers.”

Mr Cooper said the phone lines went down around 4.20am, and when he reported it to BT Openreach, telling them the type of work Majestic Care do, they came out as a priority and had the lines restored by 3.15pm.

Mr Cooper added: “They armour plated the cables to prevent further damage.

“At the time, we didn’t know the lines had been cut, it was only when a police officer came past later in the evening to ask if we had our internet back did we find out it had happened elsewhere in the town and they were investigating.

“These acts of vandalism could possibly be the work of people that mistakenly believe the Covid-19 virus is caused by 5G transmissions.

“There are a lot of people who think like that, they’re trying to find something to blame the virus on but 5G is not it. They’re idiots.

“To have the cables cut in three locations, on the same day, around the same time, it’s not coincidence.

“I just hope they’re caught before they do more damage.”

A spokesperson for the police said they were called at 7.40pm on April 3 to a report that the phone lines had been cut.

They said: “At this stage we are not sure what was used to cut the wires. We are looking at local CCTV and enquiries are ongoing.

"No arrests have been made

“This is a deplorable crime at the premises of a healthcare provider amid the current pandemic.

“We would appeal for anyone with information to please get in touch to help us find those responsible.

“We understand people may be reluctant to come forward during this time especially if they have not been following the government guidelines about staying at home, but I would reassure them that our immediate concern is to find out what happened here and we would urge anyone who has any information, no matter how insignificant they may feel it to be, to come forward and speak to us.”

Anyone with information should contact the police on 101 quoting log reference 1245 of April 3, or email 8134@lancashire.pnn.police.uk.

Alternatively Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555111.