Halstead is in line for a slice of £10million which could see broadband speeds become 12 times faster.

Essex County Council plans to roll out superfast “next generation” broadband to places with the most need and has identified the Braintree district as having little to no superfast broadband now or planned for by 2017.

The district is therefore eligible for some of the confirmed £10million of public investment in order to increase broadband speeds from 2 megabits per second (mbps) up to 24mbps.

It has not yet been confirmed where will receive the funding.

Other districts with little superfast broadband include Uttlesford, Rochford, Tendring, Maldon and Brentwood, however the Braintree and Colchester districts were identified as the most reliant on the basic 2mbps speed.

See this week's Halstead Gazette for the full story.