CENTRAL Devon MP Mel Stride has asked ministers in the House of Commons to 'bring forward' announcements about future funding for superfast broadband for rural areas.

Mr Stride used a parliamentary question session with Department for Culture, Media and Sport ministers to praise Devon and Somerset's county councils for recently signing a new contract for superfast broadband — but called for the Government to maintain its momentum as the scheme is rolled out by bringing forward further funding under the scheme as quickly as possible.

'Communities, businesses and individuals in my constituency are increasingly relying on the internet to trade and communicate,' said Mr Stride.

'In some areas download speeds are far short of acceptable. With that in mind I will continue to keep up the pressure to ensure that better solutions are provided for local people.'

Connecting Devon and Somerset, the scheme that which will deliver the roll out of superfast broad, is backed by all 19 MPs in the two counties.

It will deliver broadband greater than 2Mbps for all homes and businesses by 2015, and superfast broadband greater than 24Mbps to 85% by 2015 with the aim of reaching 100% by 2020.