Hundreds of Worth Valley residents are struggling with an inadequate or non-existent broadband service, according to a local expert.

Now they are being asked to enlist in a campaign calling for a chunk of the £23.9 million on offer to be spent locally to combat the problem. The offensive against “digital exclusion” is being spearheaded by not-for-profit group Fibre Valley, led by Oxenhope resident Ken Eastwood.

He said despite improvements in central parts of some villages, people living in peripheral Worth Valley areas still endure a poor service.

He explained that Leeds City Region has been given £23.9 million for providing the infrastructure necessary for good quality broadband. BT will decide where this cash is to be spent. Mr Eastwood said: “We want people to come to the Fibre Valley website at fibrevalley.net and sign up to the campaign.”