SUPERFAST broadband will be reaching Tockholes in the next four to six weeks.

The village will be connected to a fibre optic cable for the first time in what has been one of the most technically challenging projects for Superfast Lancashire.

Miles of network cabling has been required to provide the main link from the Blackburn exchange, and the news that lightning fast internet will finally be reaching the rural area has delighted residents and councillors.

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Colin Rigby, Conservative councillor for North Turton and Tockholes, said: “I think when people live in an area like Tockholes, they sacrifice some things for a life in a rural area, but that should not mean they are deprived of this fast access to information.

“The urban areas have no trouble with fast broadband but in rural areas there is much more cost involved. I’m so glad the government have chucked money into getting fast internet for rural areas though.

“It’s part of the way we are living now, we like to be able to download a film in three minutes not 45, and I hope that we can keep getting superfast broadband across other rural areas like Hoddlesden and Edgworth.”

Cllr Jean Rigby said: “I am over the moon that superfast broadband has come to this rural area.

“I am sure the residents will be chuffed to bits but I recommend they shop around for broadband deals.”

Superfast Lancashire, which brings fast, fibre broadband to around 675,000 across the county, is a partnership between Lancashire County Council, BT, Blackburn with Darwen Council and Blackpool Council.

As well as the network cabling being complex, there were many other challenges for Superfast Lancashire in co-ordinating their work with all the other suppliers for the operation such as local highways, electricity and other providers.

Darwen MP Jake Berry has worked very closely with both councillors and is delighted that Tockholes has been modernised in this way.

He said: “Only last week I raised the issue about broadband access in a debate in Parliament, it’s great that over 80 per cent of people in Lancashire now have access to superfast broadband but I’m working hard to get this up to 100 per cent.”