WORCESTERSHIRE County Council says it is ahead of the national trend with a community-led rural broadband solution following a £700,000 investment.

The cash injection is intended to bring faster broadband infrastructure to 200 business and 2,000 residential premises across 14 parishes in rural Worcestershire, with Little Witley among those benefiting.

Nearly 300 residential and business customers are already connected to faster broadband, courtesy of the county council's scheme, said to be the first of its kind in the UK.

Broadband infrastructure was completed by Airband at the end of June across the 14 rural parishes so anyone is those areas can now access faster internet speeds if they sign up.

Conservative Simon Geraghty, the county council's deputy leader and cabinet member for economy, skills and infrastructure, said: "The speed of internet connections is a critical part of success in today's ever-competitive market place. A number of local companies have told us how faster broadband has transformed their business and helped their customers.

"Our countywide roll-out of superfast broadband is vital but our commitment to rural areas is very important too, especially for local people and local businesses.”

Little Witley solicitor Peter Hill, who has worked on behalf of the community to help bring faster broadband, said: "The feedback I am getting from people in the parish who have just been connected is amazing, especially about the speeds they are now getting.

“I am hearing that it is 'brilliant', 'a revelation' and ‘my business activities are transformed'. We have a number of very happy parishioners already with, I hope, more in the weeks to come now that the infrastructure is successfully in place.”

Other villages set to benefit as faster broadband is rolled out are Mamble and Bayton.