THE DEPUTY mayor has voiced his "disappointment" after owners of Bullock's Tea Rooms were forced to postpone its grand re-opening until the New Year.

The £300,000 redevelopment has been completed, save for the installation of phone lines and broadband which is set to be carried out by BT.

However Steve Weaver, who co-owns Bullock's with Andrew Probyn, says he has waited 12-weeks for BT to install the lines to the property in High Street.

Councillor Roy Murphy, who represents Droitwich's Central Ward said: "It is a great disappointment for the owners of Bullock's and of course disappointment for the town itself because people have been clearly looking forward to that reopening.

"I'm surprised that BT couldn't have got it sorted."

Without broadband, Bullock's card machines cannot be used and Mr Weaver says he can't properly promote the business or put up its hanging sign outside without a telephone number.

In addition, staff employed to work at the tea rooms will now lose out on work in the run up to Christmas.

Cllr Murphy continued: "It is a fascinating building and of course it has been around for a few hundred years.

"There have been a lot of renovations of the building but the basic structure of the building is very old.

"I run guided town walks and that end of the High Street always features as part of the tour.

"I just wonder whether BT might get their finger out."

Keith Westray, who is a member of For Droitwich Spa and the Droitwich Spa Business Forum, said: "It is such a shame that they couldn't actually get up and going for the Christmas period.

"It is great that it has finally come back. It is an exceptionally historical tea room and land mark for Droitwich.

"I think it will be a benefit for the High Street providing people can park adequately and use it."

In a statement to the Droitwich News on Tuesday, a spokesperson for BT said: "A spokesperson for BT said: "BT apologises for the unforeseen delays in connecting this customer.

"Extensive engineering work needs to be carried out in order to provide the new services at these premises.

"Every effort is being made to complete the necessary work as soon as possible."