NORTHLEW'S innovative efforts to get the broadband internet connection received praise in the House of Commons from Conservative Mel Stride in a recent debate.

Central Devon MP Mr Stride explained how limited broadband service in the county, especially in remote areas, was harming communities and seriously affecting business.

He said: 'Broadband has gone from being peripheral to our day-to-day existence to being absolutely essential.

'Despite its importance, however, there never has been, and still is not, a universal right to any particular level of service. The situation has been very poor.'

Northlew was praised for the 'sterling job' it has done to provide broadband for its villagers, using microwave WiMax broadband, a wireless way to receive broadband that compensates for its poor connectivity through more traditional methods.

Mr Stride said: 'We need to look at the sharing of utilities between utility companies, such as BT's ducts and poles. We need to have a patchwork of solutions, and that can be achieved only by doing things locally.'

Findings from the Commission for Rural Communities said that while around 60 per cent of urban areas have cable linking them to broadband, the number is as low as one and a half per cent in rural villages and hamlets.

Mr Stride said: 'I hope that the local enterprise partnership bid in my area for £40-million for broadband investment is taken seriously.

'It will send just the right signal that rural communities in my area are not forgotten.'