RURAL communities near Sidmouth will benefit from improved broadband services to help boost the economy.

RURAL communities near Sidmouth will benefit from improved broadband services to help boost the economy.

Devon County Council has vowed to invest in progressing the services following its recent survey, which showed poor access to ICT was acting as a constraint on many rural businesses,

Councillor William Mumford, DCC's cabinet member for economic regeneration and strategic planning, said: "We need to redress the balance between investment into urban areas and rural communities, so we are taking a lead and providing resources for our outlying communities.

"We are working closely with key partners to see what can be done to address this as quickly as possible.