SPECIAL investigators have been called in to search for the answers as to how a fire started cutting-off thousands of British Telecom customers.

For four days Mike Patching, a top manager from the telephone company's inspection team based at Milton Keynes, combed Leigh town centre seeking information about the blaze which put 27,000 lines out of action.

Communications were cut when fire broke out in an underground cable chamber in Chapel Street, Leigh, where BT technicians were working.

This week Mr Patching admitted the company still does not know what caused the fire.

It is understood the final bill - for engineering work and claims from customers, some whom were without phone lines for 10 days - could cost millions of pounds. Mr Patching revealed there are now some doubts over initial claims that a blow torch could have sparked the fire.

He said: "There were two valves, one on the gas cylinder and the other on the torch itself.

"Firemen who attended the scene say that both valves were in the off position when they arrived."

Mr Patching has spent this week visiting local shopkeepers, residents and businesses in an attempt to establish the exact cause of the blaze.

He has also spoken to Leigh police chiefs about the incident, although there is no evidence to suggest it was an arson attack.

Mr Patching added: "I have approached them, but not because we have any doubts about whether this was an accident or intentional.

"This is obviously going to cost the company a lot of money and we want to get to the bottom of it as soon as possible.

"Somewhere there will be quite a few people in Leigh who have information about what happened, or who may have seen something.

"The important thing is that we have as much information as possible to prevent this kind of thing happening again and so we can improve future procedures as necessary."

And Mr Patch is appealing for anyone with information about the blaze to contact BT's security department on 0800 321999, or e-mail him on mike.patching@BT.com

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