MP claims major success in rural broadband campaign as BT agrees to superfast broadband for Kendal

This afternoon local MP Tim Farron has welcomed news that Kendal and Dalton-in-Furness are among the latest communities to be included in the company's £2.5 billion roll-out of fibre broadband. It will take the number of Cumbria homes and businesses being served by the new super-fast network to around 48,000 residents.

Tim was a key member of the team that helped secure the £23.8 million from BDUK and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport for the Cumbrian broadband project.

More than 16,000 more homes and businesses inCumbriaare poised to benefit from super-fast broadband as part of a major expansion of BT's roll-out plans.

The latest upgrades are due to be completed during 2012.

Commenting, Tim said: "This is brilliant news! Having access to high-speed internet is absolutely essential to the long term economic and social well-being of our area. I have been working with community groups and BT for months on this and I am delighted that homes will see real differences in the next few months in the broadband speeds. I am delighted that this extra funding has been allocated towards helping us to build the broadband network rural areas like ours need."