Sky Broadband customers across Sunderland without service after A19 roadworks cable damage

Cable damage under the A19 has taken out Sky Broadband services across Sunderland

The problem has affected Sky's Fibre Broadband service across Boldon, East Herrington, Hylton, Ryhope, central and north Sunderland, Washington and Whitburn.

The firm has posted updates on its website and apologised to customers but is warning the disruption will last until late this evening.

"We understand from our on-site engineers that the problem has been caused by a fibre-cable break close to the A19," it said.

"Unfortunately, due to extensive damage it is likely that repair works will extend into the evening.

"The location of the fibre break has been confirmed as damage as a result of roadworks on the A19. A lane closure will be required to allow engineers to commence repair works safely."

The latest update reads: "Lane closures have been approved for 21:00 this evening.

"As our teams are already working on their preparations we aim to be in a position to commence work immediately at that time.

"Due to the scale of workload it's likely to extend into late evening. We’re really sorry about this but we’ll keep you updated here with the latest info.

"Our contact centres do not have any further information."

Response from people posting on the Echo's Facebook page was mixed.

Andrea Appleby wrote: "Totally disgusted. This is the second time this year I've had no access to my internet.

"I have children who need to do homework and can't without the internet. 9pm is ridiculous."

And Dane Old said: "My god, households will be in uproar tonight when their kids are in from school to find out there's no Internet!!!! Haha"

But John Bloomfield defended the media giant: "Hardly Sky's fault if their cables have been damaged by a workforce that has nothing to do with them - and if they have to wait for permission from the authorities to close a lane of the A19 to repair it," he wrote.

The Sky disruption is not the only problem for telecoms customers today.

Mobile network EE has been hit by a service outage across the UK.