Owen Paterson MP to hold crunch signal talks with mobile phone operators

It comes as Mr Paterson has urged more of his constituents to contact him so he can find out which are the worst areas in the region affected by poor signal.

The former Government minister said he was concerned there are still many areas in Shropshire, as well as the rest of the country, without a good mobile phone signal, meaning that many people would be unable to make an emergency call.

He said: "I have got a meeting in January. I am waiting on Vodaphone and BT to get their act together before they come back and I meet with them.

"Not only is mobile phone signal currently very bad, it is actually getting worse.

"I believe we have seen a sharp deterioration and it is getting worse on a weekly basis.

"Part of the problem is that new companies are consolidating their masts which is reducing coverage.

"Something needs to be done as it will only get worse. There is more demand on the network as more people are listening to music and watching videos.

"We got off to a bad start with mobile phone service in Shropshire, partly due to its varying geography, but I lose signal up and down the country. It's happened recently in places such as London, Berkshire and Leicestershire."

Mr Paterson has previously called for his constituents to email their postcodes to him if they have a bad signal or broadband reception to help show where the problems areas are.

"I have had a few people contact me but not a lot. I would once again urge people affected by poor service to contact me," he added.

Mr Paterson has previously met bosses from Vodaphone and BT to push for better mobile phone and broadband coverage.

He told them as well as affecting the economy, having no mobile signal could be the difference between life and death.

He said the companies told him they want more and higher masts and a relaxation of planning laws to speed up the number of masts they can provide.

One of the areas affected by poor mobile phone service is Market Drayton, with a number of people claiming it affects their businesses.

Last year Rebecca Sutton, owner of The Town Barbers in Queen Street, was left desperately trying to get some phone signal to call for help after she collapsed at work.

With her barber shop sat in the middle of a complete blackspot, it was only thanks to a passer-by who saw her struggling that she got the help she needed.

Resident Kev Glover, from Coton, near Whitchurch, has also previously spoke about having difficulties with no signal in his house.