
to the forum, moth ... Surfboard?! You must be a real broadband old timer.

(And a real long-term lurker as well, seeing as you waited 18 months to make your first post - nice to hear from you at last!)
We have a few users in that part of the world, hopefully someone will be along soon to let you know if it's an area problem or not.
Out of interest, have you tried to call NTL themselves yet?