By Jean Kingdon

A £5 MILLION project to bring high speed internet broadband access to every household and business in Shropshire by 2007 was announced this week.

The cash comes from Advantage West Midlands (AWM) and the funds will be divided among Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire.

While 94.7% of the region is currently hooked up to broadband, only 82.6% of Shropshire has access.

AWM says the project will see the most hard to reach parts of the county finally get the benefits of the internet revolution, such as the isolated communities of Burwarton, Kinlet and Norton.

Rural businesses located well away from the network will be able to gain access through the Remote Area Broadband Inclusion Trial (RABBIT) also included in the project.

Richard Hutchins, AWM's corporate director for rural development, said: "Broadband is now just as important a facility to business as telephones, water and electricity, but there are still some areas missing out.

"If companies in the West Midlands are to compete in a global market place, having access to broadband is not just important, it is absolutely essential."

Mr Hutchins added that without this help, some areas - mostly rural - could have been waiting many more years before getting access.

"This project will plug the gaps and enable the entire West Midlands to enjoy the benefits broadband access brings," he said.