Duncan Baker MP 'angry' after O2 mix-up with Horning village

The parish of Horning has been enduring poor mobile phone signal for the past three weeks, leaving residents scratching their heads as to the source of the problem.

It seemed the mystery was solved on Tuesday (July 11) when O2 told Duncan Baker, MP for North Norfolk, the disruption was being caused by gulls nesting in a mast. 

But less than 24 hours later, the telecoms company was forced into making an apology after it emerged they had provided the MP with wrong information - and the mast with the nesting gulls was not in the Broads at all, but in Norwich. 

By then, Mr Baker had already raised the matter in the House of Commons.

North Norfolk MP Duncan Baker met with an O2 boss to discuss poor mobile phone signal around Horning. (Image: Archant)

As for the lack of coverage around Horning, which is still an issue in the area, it turns out that has been caused by the decommissioning of a mast at RAF Neatishead. 

On Thursday morning (July 13), Mr Baker met with Steven Verigotta, O2's director of UK delivery.

The MP said: "I said how angry I am they knew about the RAF Neatishead mast being decommissioned and made virtually no effort to prepare and left my constituents without access to any reception."

READ MORE: The Norfolk village where a family literally stepped back in time

The village of Horning has had poor mobile phone signal for the past three weeks. (Image: Denise Bradley)

O2 will now try using existing nearby infrastructure to boost the signal around Horning.

Next week the company will start looking for a site for a temporary mast.

An O2 spokesperson said: “We’re aware that some customers in the Horning area may be experiencing intermittent issues with their mobile coverage and we apologise for any inconvenience this is causing.

"This has been caused after we had to take down one of our masts in the area, and we are actively looking at ways we can boost services for Horning residents.”