A FAULT with the telephone lines at the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle has been fixed.

Patients were unable to reach individual departments at the Carlisle hospital yesterday and were instead advised to the switchboard at the West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven.

North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust said today: "The fault with the telephone lines at the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle has been fixed. All numbers starting 01228 are operating as normal.

"The trust would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused."