Kennaway House has undergone a major communications upgrade thanks to a pair of generous grants.

The Regency venue has benefited from £4,600 from Making it Local (MIL) and £500 from county councillor Stuart Hughes’s locality budget.

The money has been spent on improved broadband and a pair of new computers.

MIL chairman, Councillor Paul Diviani, and Cllr Hughes, helped mark the completion of a project on Monday.

Representing Kennaway House trustees, who also funded the project, was president, Dr Michael James, and vice-chairman, Diana Bowerman, who applied for the grant.

A grateful Diana said: “Not only have we been able to carry out a major upgrade of the broadband system, enabling full use of wi-fi throughout the building, we have also been able to purchase two new all-in-one computers with professional software for the office.”

She added that the equipment ‘had brought technology into the 21st Century’ at the house.

The broadband upgrade was undertaken by Alex Carrah, of Phone and Broadband of Exeter, and he will maintain the system for the next two years.

Diana added that the new system gives the house more flexibility in how its rooms are let and more business conferences and an internet cafe are also on the cards.

Councillor Hughes said: “The computer system they now have stands them in a good position to go from strength to strength.”

Making it Local is a grants scheme in the Blackdown Hills and East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty incorporating funding from the European Union, Defra and Leader.

Mr Diviani added: “We were delighted to assist the trustees of Kennaway House with their programme of improvements to enhance the service they give to so many of their clients.”