Broadband campaigners are spitting feathers after reporting that their recently ADSL-upgraded exchanges don't appear to be working.

Net users in Leek and Irby - which had their exchanges converted to ADSL last week after drumming up enough local demand for broadband - are reporting problems trying to connect to ADSL.

And there are reports that the problems are not isolated and that as many as ten recently-enabled exchanges are also suffering connection problems.

A statement on the broadband4leek (http://www.broadband4leek.co.uk) campaign Web site says that its exchange is suffering "a major problem".

"So far, everybody I know who's activated is suffering service outages. Something at BT's end is broken, whether it be equipment in the actual exchange, or something else," it said.

A similar message on the broadband4irby.co.uk (http://www.broadband4irby.co.uk) site urges those who cannot get their ADSL service to work to escalate the problem to their ISPs.

Industry sources have told The Register that there does appear to be a problem although no further details are known at present.

A spokesman for BT said he was unaware of any problems but would investigate. ®