A RURAL community in Eden is ‘waiting on tenterhooks’ as superfast broadband edges closer.

Ravenstonedale residents raised £80,000 to get cables laid to their homes after finding their current internet speed unbearably slow.

A 15km network of cables is being laid from Ash Fell Hill, through Fell End, to Uldale by local trencher Tony Swindenbank, providing 58 properties with high-speed internet.

Additional funding of £26,000 was provided by the Prince’s Countryside Fund and a further £54,000 was donated by DEFRA’s Rural Development Programme for England as well as an undisclosed amount from the Holehird Trust.

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The cables have to pass through several farmers’ fields en route to the properties but every landowner granted wayleave free of charge, knocking thousands off the overall cost as they would normally charge £2 per metre.

Libby Bateman, local project co-ordinator, said: “We’re going to be sitting here on tenterhooks - it will mean a great deal to businesses around here.”