RESIDENTS in at least three blocks of flats in Telok Blangah Drive had their home phone connections knocked out for over 12 hours on Tuesday.

The disruptions affected residents of more than 250 units in Blocks 45, 48 and 49 - their landlines were not usable and some of their Internet connections were also not working.

Many residents used their mobile phones to call SingTel, but they were told that the line would be reconnected soon.

However, it was only at about 9pm on Tuesday that normal services resumed.

When contacted by The Straits Times, SingTel said the disruption in services was planned as they were carrying out cable diversion works in the vicinity.

But a technical error meant that the service was disrupted for hours instead.

Retiree Anthony Wong, 62,who lives at Block 48, called SingTel in the afternoon to check on the status of his line. He was told that engineers knew about the problem and were working to fix it.

Read the full story in Thursday's edition of The Straits Times.