THE Allen Valleys is on track to become one of the first areas in the UK to benefit from hyperfast broadband.

A community group has announced it is ready to launch an ambitious new scheme after joining forces with the Broadband 4 Rural North project (B4RN), a not-for profit organisation based in Lancashire.

The group’s leader, Mike Robinson, said that over 400 residents and business owners had already expressed an interest in the scheme, which would be rolled out in communities between Nenthead and Langley.

Mr Robinson said residents were being invited to a public meeting at Allendale Village Hall on Monday next week, at 7pm, to find out more.

He said: “More than 400 people in the Allen Valleys have already signed up to our scheme and we are ready to move forward to the installation stage.

“There really has been a lot of interest and there is no doubt that hyper speed internet is a really big deal for the Allen Valleys.”

Mr Robinson said hyperfast broadband was gradually being rolled out across Britain, and could reach speeds of up to one gigabyte per second.

The Allendale resident, who works in video production, said the scheme had the backing of Langley Castle Hotel, which was keen to improve its own internet services for guests.

He explained: “In some rural areas, some people still don’t have a wireless connection.

“This is better than superfast broadband, not only because it is faster, but because its installation is entirely under the ground.”

Mr Robinson said schools and churches would be able to sign up for free to the scheme, which would also support other community projects.

He added: “B4RN is based in Lancashire and it already supplies hyperfast broadband to 3,000 users, but is not so well-known in the North- East.”