THE Cotswold MP has hailed new figures which show that 97.4 percent of homes in the district are covered by broadband.

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown praised the figures, which cover 49,345 residential premises including privately owned caravans.

The new coverage includes 13,213 covered under commercial plans, 22,704 in Fastershire phase 1, 10,806 in Fastershire phase 2 and 1,320 under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).

This amounts to a total coverage of 97.4 percent - surpassing the Government’s pledge of 95 percent nationally by the end of the year.

Sir Geoffrey said: "I have recently connected to fast broadband myself and it has transformed my life.

"Not only are download and upload speeds significantly faster but it has also improved my telephone and television service immeasurably.

"I absolutely understand the frustration for all those constituents who still do not have any or a slow internet connection. I would like to assure those of you that I will be working find a solution to this as soon as is practical."

This coverage still leaves 1,302 hard to reach or remote premises to without a solution and the figures show availability, rather than whether residents have chosen to install broadband.