Environment Minister to take part in Northumberland switch-on

The Environment Minister has travelled to a rural area of Northumberland to take part in the switch-on of fibre optic broadband.

George Eustace has visited the village of Rothbury to mark the initial introduction of the superfast broadband service. 

Rothbury wasn't included in original fibre optic rollout plans as part of the government's Broadband Delivery UK scheme. But it has become the first area to benefit from the Rural Community Broadband Fund, which aims to bring coverage to spots that have not been deemed commercially viable by BT.

Mr Eustace welcomed the rollout and explained that he would be looking forward to seeing next-generation connections brought to many more rural towns and villages during the coming months and years.

He said: "Every rural area deserves a good internet connection. It has the power to transform business prospects and create more rural jobs."

As work on the project continues, it is estimated that 98 per cent of homes and businesses will have access to fibre optic broadband by the end of March 2015.