VIRGIN Media has accepted they were slow to react to claims women on a Wrexham estate were victims of abuse and inappropriate behaviour from their contractors.

In the months leading up to Christmas workers were laying cables in Caia Park as the company continues to roll out ultrafast fibre optic broadband in Wrexham.

In December, Queensway Councillor Carrie Harper said she had been approached by several women who have either been sworn at or subjected to sexually inappropriate behaviour by the contractors.

One complaint was from a mother who said she was walking her son to school at the time.

Last month members of Caia Park Community Council decided to write to the company and invite them to this month's meeting after concerns about lack of progress with an investigation and disciplinary action, after an apology was issued by the company.

At this month's meeting, Whitegate Cllr Brian Cameron also reported his concern about complaints of foul language being used by workers in his ward recently.

Speaking at this month's meeting, Cllr Harper said: "I had six complaints raised by different women in my ward about abusive language and inappropriate behaviour from the contractors.

"The conclusion and outcome isn't good enough and I'm very unhappy that no disciplinary action has been taken as a result of the complaints.

"One individual has now been put on 'watch' for three months. It's just not good enough."

Thomas Poad, Virgin Media's regional affairs manager said there was "a lack of proof" to enable the company to take more action.

He said: "We did investigate, we do take it seriously but the result of the investigation didn't give us significant proof to take actions against them..

"We don't have sufficient evidence to identify the individual being complained about. We won't take any further action at this point."

Cllr Harper disagreed and added: "We had to push.

"Residents gave very detailed descriptions, corroborated by third parties. We had to push for that investigation and someone to admit something had happened."

Chair of the community council, Wynnstay Cllr Malcolm King said he was surprised the complaints were not taken more seriously.

He said: "It's about the balance of probability rather than proof and any tribunal looking at it would be likely to be true.

"The idea that you couldn't take disciplinary action including dismissal is shocking.

"For a major company to ignore claims of women being harassed in this day and age is jaw dropping."

Julian Holland, a Virgin Media community liaison officer, said that the company had noted the dissatisfaction with the way the complaints had been handled.

He said: "We've closed down the complaint as dissatisfied. It's gone right to the top of Virgin Media that it wasn't dealt with correctly at the beginning."