Utility suppliers across Shropshire are struggling to cope under the weight of customer demands as the big freeze continues to grip the country.

Severn Trent Water, British Gas and National Grid have all been bombarded by calls for help as temperatures have fallen to at least -14C (6.8F).

Severn Trent’s call centre took 2,500 calls yesterday morning alone, the majority from customers whose pipes had frozen or burst.

Fraser Pithie, senior operations manager at Severn Trent, said: “If your neighbours’ supplies are unaffected, it is most likely that your internal water pipes are frozen, and there’s no point ringing us as we cannot help with private pipe work and plumbing.”

“Please don’t call us, as unfortunately we’re not able to do anything to help you restore your water supply.”

British Gas said staff were working around the clock responding to thousands of call outs each day.

A spokesman said: “We’re currently fixing almost 20,000 boilers per day, which is equivalent to one boiler every five seconds.

“Our engineers have been working flat out to make sure our customers have the heat and hot water they need as freezing conditions cause record heating system issues across the country.

“We have drafted in extra engineers and call centre staff to cope with the influx of emergency calls and we’ve boosted our fleet of vans with 60 brand new Transits.”

National Grid spokeswoman Doranna Widdicks said: “We have experienced an increase of 25 per cent in gas consumption and a 10 per cent higher level of electricity usage since the cold snap began.

“In total, from November 15, we’ve received 202,000 calls nationally to our emergency gas hel-pline and have taken on extra staff to help.”

Sherman Hardy-Lane, of Telford Gas and Heating, said that he had seen a huge increase in demand for his services.

He said: “One of the things we have found since the cold weather began has been the freezing of condensing boilers. Because of the low temperatures and the position of the boilers the water is freezing in the tanks”

BP spokesman Mark Salt said that, in the fuel stakes, Shropshire had so far got off lightly with the weather.

He said: “The whole country has suffered but the main problems we have seen are in the South East of England and Scotland.

“We have experienced a few issues in the Midlands with fuel deliveries but they are normal for this time of year.”

Meanwhile, the big freeze was continuing to cause problems for residents across the region.

A group of scouts in Telford had a warming escape from the cold after their heating broke.

The scout group in Madeley could have been left shivering after the heating in their hut packed up but Ray Hardman, senior vice president of Ironbridge Rotary Club, used his handyman tools to get the temperature rising again after being called on by scout leaders to help.

Mr Hardman said: “The philosophy of Rotary is that members in each club have a wide range of skills and trades that can be utilised for volunteer work in the community and beyond.”

It is not just humans who are feeling the effects of the sub-zero temperatures, however. Bosses at a Shropshire rescue centre today urged people to keep their dogs warm in these Arctic conditions.

Louise Campbell, manager of Dogs Trust Roden, said: “Dogs Trust has 17 rehoming centres across the UK and the majority of these have seen plenty of snowfall so our dedicated canine carers are providing extra blankets and heating to ensure the hounds are happy and warm.”

Tips from the charity include letting the dog’s winter coat grow and buying a sensible coat for puppies or short-haired dogs, keeping animals on a lead when it is snowing heavily as they can get disorientated, and making sure pets wear an identity tag in case they go missing.

Dogs Trust chiefs also warned that anti-freeze was poisonous and should be kept out of the dog’s reach and animals should be kept off frozen lakes. Download a free fact sheet at www.dogs trust.org.uk/az/w/winter