You post rings alarm bells.
If the socket was part of a ring main even if a wire fell out the next socket should still work.
So how many wires of each colour?
There are two ways to wire sockets as a ring or as a radial the ring is most common and relies on the ring being maintained and will normally be supplied from a single 30/32 amp fuse/MCB it is very important to test after any work as the radial with uses same cable is supplied from a 20 amp fuse/MCB so should a ring be broken overloading can result. Both these use 2.5mm cable.
Also a radial can use 4mm cable and then it can be supplied with a 30/32 amp fuse/MCB but then care is needed to ensure any additions are also in the heavier cable.
A ring main can have a single spur in 2.5mm cable but if more than one spur is required then a fused connection unit (FCU) has to be used.
If you go to
http://www.theiet.org/publishing/wiring ... /index.cfm and download the BS 7671:2008, Corrigendum (July 2008) this gives a very good chart as to what is allowed.
What you relate to worries me as it seems you may have a broken ring if you don't understand what a ring main is and how to test it then I would advise you get it checked by someone who does. Overload and the possible fire as a result is too serious to take chances with.
I may have it wrong and it may be OK but not to raise the issue would not help you in long run.
Eric