A VILLAGE has become the first rural community in the county to benefit from multi-million pound Superfast Lancashire broadband.

The 240 premises in Belthorn were able to connect to super-fast fibre broadband from yesterday The move comes after a damning report by The Commons Public Accounts Committee said the Government had failed to ensure proper competition by awarding all 26 rural broadband contracts to BT - a claim BT argues is ‘wrong’.

Belthorn residents and business owners were pleased to finally have a fast connection, after struggling with an unreliable internet service for so long.

Dog Inn landlord, Nicholas Parker said: “We offer free wi-fi to customers but with the connection, it was hit and miss.

Ian Billing of Belthorn Road firm, UK Insulations Ltd, said his company was looking forward to being able to hold video conferences with clients in China and South America.

The Openreach network is open to all providers, meaning that residents can choose from a number of different suppliers not just BT.