BT has confirmed this morning that all copper cabling cut at the weekend has been repaired and it believes all its customers should now be reconnected.

Phone lines were dead and screens went blank in hundreds of homes on Sunday after thieves sliced through copper BT cables.

The cables were cut between 11.45pm on Saturday and 10.15am on Sunday at the junction of Brettgrave Road and Long Grove Road, near Southfield Park Primary School.

It is not known why the cables were not removed after they were cut but 100m of wires needed repair leaving frustrated residents in 350 nearby homes with no phone or internet connection for up to three days.

Homes affected included Clarendon Park, Horton Crescent, Cavendish Walk and Norris Close.

On Wednesday lunchtime a spokesman said that the reconnected lines were being tested to ensure they are now functioning properly.

The attack is only the latest in an epidemic of thefts of copper cables driven by a trebling of the price of the metal in the past two years. Between May 2009 and May this year there have been 800 cables stolen in Surrey with police now patrolling likely target areas for thieves in a bid to catch them.

Roberto Castiglioni, 47, of Horton Crescent in Epsom, who didn't get his line back until Tuesday criticised BT for not providing more information and believes those affected should receive compensation.

He said: “It of course made certain activities more challenging because all of us are becoming more and more dependent on the internet.

“We shop online and even order milk from the milkman online so of course there have been issues.

“I believe they could have acted a little bit sooner given the gravity of the situation.

“They have not provided a service to their customers for a number of days and as everyone pays a fixed line rental they should deduct that from the next bill."

Mr Castiglioni added: “All the people I have spoken with and neighbours were getting different answers.

“I was being told the 7th others the 8th.

“Nobody was being told about the nature of the fault so I believe that from an information point of view they have room for improvement because as a user you would like to know what’s going on.

“I would also like to express a big thank you to you and the Epsom Guardian because you certainly helped expedite the recovery.”

A spokesperson for BT said: “We needed to renew around 100m of cable in order to repair the damage.

"We have completed out works and we are just testing all lines, but believe everyone should be back in service.

“On the issue of compensation, this is something which customers need to speak to their service providers about once their line is restored.”

Epsom and Ewell neighbourhood inspector Craig Knight, said: “Although the cable was damaged in this incident and not taken, we believe it was the intention of the suspects to go back and collect the cable and try and sell it on.

“Regular patrols take place around areas where cable could potentially be targeted and we are also working closely with a number of companies who have cable in our area to see how we can reduce the risk of them being targeted in the future.”

The cost of copper wire thefts to the economy estimated at £770m per year.

Attacks on BT networks have risen by 12 per cent since 2010. Luke Beeson, BT Security, general manager, said: “Stealing telecommunications cable requires some degree of organisation, planning, equipment and resources. “Offenders cover the whole spectrum of criminality from opportunist thieves stealing small amounts through to organised criminal gangs with access to more resources and equipment causing major widespread disruption to our customers.”

BT operates a partnership with Crimestoppers to help prevent cable thefts offering a £1,000 for anyone providing information leading to arrests and subsequent convictions.

People can call Crimestoppers anonymously and free on 0800 555 111.

Anyone who saw anything suspicious or who has further information should contact Surrey Police on 101 quoting reference EP/11/5330.