No dialling tone - just a beeping sound

Question

On incoming calls the cradle makes a ringing sound but the actual handset doesnt and when I pick up the handset to try and take the call there's just a beeping sound - a bit like the engaged tone but not as rapid.Secondly, If I try to make an outgoing call using the handset I cant get a dialling tone - there's just the same beeping sound as described above.