EXTRA police patrols were put on standby after vandals cut telephone communications on Leigh's largest council housing estate.

Phone links went severed on Thursday night when vandals set fire to a cable junction box on the Higher Fold estate.

"We want to reassure residents that we are there when needed," said Leigh Police Supt Mary Vaisnys.

A fire officer who attended the junction box incident in Queensway said: "This was a mindless act of vandalism which could have had serious consequences in an emergency."The telephone system was restored late last night.