Rural communities across the east of England could be enjoying access to broadband for the first time, with new funding announced last week.

The East of England Development Agency (EEDA) has secured £500,000 through the Regional Development Programme for England (RDPE) to help plug some of the gaps which exist in rural broadband availability.

Local authorities, businesses, social enterprises and charities can all bid for a share of the funding to support ‘community broadband projects'.

The announcement came as the Government pledged to step up work to increase the number of people with web access.

The UK digital champion, Martha Lane Fox, said: ‘Businesses are competing for more online customers. And the Government needs to deliver better for less.

‘Charities want to support the people they serve better.

‘So, we are calling on them to work together and tackle the unfairness and lost opportunities caused by digital exclusion, and deliver positive social change,' she said.