A Wednesbury newsagent claims he has lost thousands of pounds in trade after his Lotto machine broke when workmen accidentally damaged telephone cables.

Lee Bagnall, who runs the Stars newsagents in Park Lane, was unable to use the lottery terminal for nine days after construction workers contracted by BT damaged underground cables.

The damage meant the telephone lines to the shop were down so customers were unable to get Lotto tickets or top up their mobile telephones or gas and electricity accounts.

Mr Bagnall’s problems have emerged at the same time that West Midlands Police announced that no emergency calls could be made using landlines in the Wednesbury area last night.

A total of 1,719 lines went down but it is not yet known whether the two problems are connected.

Mr Bagnall estimated the problem had cost him close to £3,000 in lost trade.

He said the problems with the cables had also meant residents, many of who are elderly, were unable to use their landline telephones.

Mr Bagnall said he had to turn customers away who wanted to put money on the lottery and he feared they would not return to the shop.

Temporary repairs meant the machine had been running today. BT was unavailable for comment.