THE work of a Cornish multiple sclerosis (MS) charity is being "seriously jeopardised" because BT has failed to fit a phone line at a new therapy centre.

The Merlin Project is opening its centre in Hewas Water on Tuesday, April 14, but is unable to take bookings for treatments because BT has repeatedly delayed installing a phone line.

Supporters have spent seven years raising £2,250,000 for the centre, the first of its kind in Cornwall.

Charity chairman Derek Murphy said: "This to us is totally catastrophic. They were supposed to start two or three weeks ago and put a line in so we had telephone and an e-mail; they have now said it could take a month or so.

"We were hoping that the phone line would be in by now; I don't know what they're fiddling about with but every time they call it's with a further delay.

"We are a charity; we're not publicly funded except by the good public of Cornwall.

"The whole situation is being very seriously jeopardised by the fact that BT aren't doing their job and it's infuriating.

"I can't get through to complain to the hierarchy of BT; I don't think they're even on the phone."

Staff and volunteers at the Merlin Project are using the old number 01872 224030 to pick up bookings.

Dr Murphy said: "We're trying to transfer calls to our old office at Threemilestone, to myself or another one of the trustees, as an interim measure so we can keep in contact with supporters and people wanting therapies.

"We're just soldiering on the best we can."

The Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre at Bradbury House, Hewas Water, will be the first in Cornwall to offer a range of orthodox and alternative treatments for sufferers.

Dr Murphy said: "We're offering a range of orthodox and complimentary medicine for the patients to choose the ones which help them best.

"We make no pretence of offering a cure but we know from the experience of other centres that we can, with the treatments that we're going to offer, help people to keep going; that is what we're all about."

A BT spokesman apologised for the delay, which he said was because a new cable had to be laid.

He said the company was working on the problem as a priority and hoped the cable could be installed within the next two weeks.

For more information about the charity visit www.merlinproject.org.uk