Unable to access email account

I have been a Virgin (originally NTL) customer for many years. My main @ntlworld.com stopped working about 24 hours ago and I have just spoken to the Help Desk and got nowhere. 

There was apparently a problem a few weeks ago that was only patially fixed but what this has to do with my account stopping working yesterday I don't know. The HD then started talking about having three e-mails when I have more than that and the other three that my wife and I use regularly are all working fine. I use POP3 to download messages and SMTP to send; SMPT doesn't work either so I don't understand why webmail problems are the cause. Not surprisingly I can't access emails on my phone.

Several months ago another of my accounts (the most active one!) was randomly deleted but fortunately could be resurrected and I am concerned this has happened again.

It would be greatly appreciated by many here if any of the Virgin staff on the forum could clarify what is happening and what can be done. The HD also mentioned something about using a non Virgin/NTL email to log in to webmail but I don't understand how this will help as my problem - and probably many others here - is much wider.