A WEST Devon village is a step closer to joining the 21st century, after being awarded more than half the funds needed to bring broadband to its community.

The Northlew Community Broadband Project, which was set up by five residents last November, has received a grant of £40,000 from the Greater Dartmoor Local Enterprise Fund (LEAF ), to fund its own broadband.

The decision to set up the project came after residents were told they would have to fund the scheme themselves, if they wanted to receive internet access.

The generous grant will go towards funding the project, which will cost a total of £60,000.

Director of the project Chris Marson said he felt it was unfair residents had to pay for the service themselves.

He said: 'When I moved to Northlew, I was told there was broadband, but there was not.

'When we found out we had to pay for the service ourselves, five of us got together and set up the project.

'We are all directors, all equal and all share the same vision — to bring broadband to the community.

'We applied for lots of different funding and eventually we secured funding with LEAF, which has been a fantastic help and made a major difference.'

Mr Marson said the villagers had worked hard to secure their own funds.

He added: 'As a community we have raised £3,000 by holding a variety of different events, from garden fetes to chilli and curry nights in our local pub, the Green Dragon, who have also been a massive support.

'A few individual households and businesses requiring broadband access have installed private direct satellite links, but they have proved to be considerably expensive, with the remaining 95 per cent dependent on a dial-up access.'

Mr Marson expressed thanks to Northlew Church, which has offered its roof for the broadband connection to be based from.

He said: 'The church have been exceptionally supportive and have been behind us all the way.

'As a whole, the community has really pulled together.'

Other villages with no broadband connection include Belstone and Petrockstowe, as well as most rural villages in and around Dartmoor.

Director of the project and resident of Northlew Ian Richards said the project would also help other villages with no connection.

He said: 'We have been looking at solving the problem for the last few years.

'We recently lost our post office and shop and have an outreach service available twice a week,

'All of our infrastructure has disappeared and trying to work on dial-up just doesn't work anymore.

'When we get the connection, people will be able to work from home and it will encourage more people to move to the village.

'The whole community will benefit from it and it is going to make a huge difference.

'Once it is all up and running, we will be able to help and offer guidance to other villages who are trying to secure broadband.'

The Northlew Broadband Project hopes to have raised the total funds and have the connection up and running by the end of August.