THE Minister of State for Energy, e-Commerce and Postal Services was today due to visit the innovative Broadband eLaboratory in East Lancashire to declare the project open.

And MP Stephen Timms announced a competition which will help up to four businesses to develop new products or services using the Broadband eLaboratory facilities.

The connections and equipment will be available for these businesses to trial and test their ideas, with the aim of turning them into profitable ventures.

During his visit to the Broadband eLaboratory, which is a project powered by Instant Search Business Information and funded by the North West Development Agency, he was due to see many Broadband applications and connections which have been laid into the Instant Search Offices. ADSL, cable, wireless and satellite.

Prior to the arrival of the Minister, Nigel Evans, Conservative MP for Ribble Valley conducted a video link with Anthony Capstick from the House of Commons.

The link demonstrated how he hoped to engage with constituents for his surgery.

Clitheroe Town councillor and chairman of Ribble Valley Liberal Democrats, Councillor David Berryman, communicated from the South China Sea off Borneo from an oil rig, via an internet telephone call and MSN computer chat link to the Broadband eLaboratory.

Representatives from the organisations involved in the project were present, including the Chamber of Commerce, eLancs.net, UK Online for Business and the Lancashire Digital Development Agency.