INSTALLATION work to bring faster internet to three South Lakeland parishes has begun.

Volunteers in New Hutton, Old Hutton & Holmescales and Preston Patrick were so dissatisfied with their broadband speed that they formed a group called Broadband for South Westmorland (B4SW).

They aim to install a B4RN broadband network to every house and business in the three parishes that wants to connect to it.

So far 82 per cent have signed up and the number is still rising.

After a year of discussing the route with landowners and raising money, installation is now in progress. Some of the route will be done by a contractor but a substantial length is being put in by the landowners themselves.

Most of the £342,450 raised to date has been invested by parishioners but local councils have also helped.

South Lakeland District Council has paid for a cabinet to be sited at New Hutton which will control signals going into the national broadband network.

It will also serve parishes in a large part of South Lakes. Cumbria County Council has also helped to buy a micro-digger for use when laying the network in gardens. The project is possible because of the generosity of over 140 landowners in allowing the network to cross their property. The project will involve laying about 60km of duct and providing services for the 500 houses and businesses in the area.