SUPERFAST broadband will come to one of the hardest-to-reach corners of Dorset thanks to the success of a community-led project.

The Department of Culture, Media and Sport is to give £1million to provide coverage to the Marshwood Vale area.

Work will start next year as part of the Superfast Dorset project.

Charles Somers, who chaired the former Dorset Community Broadband Forum which represented hard-to-reach communities, has led the bid on behalf of the Marshwood Vale communities.

He said: “We knew Superfast Dorset was unlikely to reach the Marshwood Vale and that we would need additional funding.”

He added: “Almost 200 residents and businesses wrote in to support the proposals. With this phenomenal community backing, we worked with the Superfast Dorset team to build a strong case for extra funding and we are delighted to see that our efforts have met with success.”

The areas to benefit are parts of Marshwood, Broadwindsor, Bettiscombe, Stoke Abbott, Thorncombe and surrounding parishes.