A LYME Regis computer company has announced a high-speed solution to getting Lyme Regis and Charmouth on the information superhighway.

Lowcost Computers is set to introduce a wireless Broadband service for the area and says it could be operational within weeks.

Company boss Kerry Austin says all they need is 100 subscribers to cover the cost if installing the necessary transmitters.

The service, which would be known as Lyme Regis Community Broadband Network, would be available throughout the resort as well as Uplyme and the Lym Valley - although some areas such as Yawl would take a few weeks longer to connect.

Charmouth residents would also be able to log on to the new service via a signal beamed to an aerial on a house at Stonebarrow Hill and bounced back to the village.

Mr Austin says engineers from 1st Broadband - the firm providing the wireless technology - will visit the area soon to test various sites for signal accessibility.

If all goes well he says wireless Broadband should be available by October - as much as two years ahead of BT who have still to set a trigger level for installing the equipment at the Lyme exchange.

Even then Mr Austin points out that the landline service will not be available to all communities, including Charmouth despite sharing Lyme's 01297 STD code.

Mr Austin says the cost of the wireless Broadband service should be around £27 - £30 a month - about the same as BT.

Once installed in the Lyme area he says the intention is to take it up through the Char Valley to Marshwood and South Somerset.

Axminster and Seaton are also earmarked to receive the service.

He added: "The whole idea is based on the community principle. I will be putting together a website shortly that will have all the relevant details - www.lymeregiscbbn.co.uk

Mr Austin can be contacted on Lyme Regis 01297 444207 or 0845 1080423.

* In the meantime the News' campaign to have the Broadband equipment installed at the local BT exchange for use via landlines continues.