THREE East Lancashire communities are among 18,700 homes and businesses in the county with faster broadband, BT announced yesterday.

Hoghton, Earby and Turton now have next generation broadband service delivered over copper lines.

The investment gives download speeds of up to 20 megabits per second, more than double the fastest speed previously available.

The company said by next spring around 93 per cent of homes and businesses in the region will be served by an exchange which has been upgraded to deliver these higher speeds.

Mike Blackburn, BT’s regional director, said: “Faster broadband is touching the Iives of everyone, from small businesses and homeworkers, to internet shoppers, students, families and online gaming enthusiasts.

“Around 90 per cent of North West homes and businesses now have access to faster broadband and within less than a year we expect this will have increased to around 93 per cent.”