CAMPAIGNERS trying to connect rural Purbeck to a fast new internet service plan to distribute flyers to every household in the district in a bid to drum up support.

Rural communities are facing an uphill struggle to get connected to broadband - a telecommunications link which allows the quick transfer of large volumes of information.

Wareham businessman Simon McCabe has been leading a campaign over the past year and hopes the leaflet campaign will win the backing of sufficient numbers of people who want broadband.

BT has set targets for the number of registered users it needs before it agrees to upgrade local telephone exchanges.

Mr McCabe, 31, said: "If I don't get this I'm going to have to consider selling my house and moving - everything I do is online and at the speeds I'm getting at the moment I am dropping behind so much each month."

In Wareham 400 users are required and 212 people have so far registered their interest. Swanage needs 450 and to date there are 219 registered users.

Lytchett Minster exchange finally hit its trigger level of 250 registered users on April 22 and the exchange is expected to be upgraded in July.

BT has yet to announce the number of users it would require before introducing broadband in Corfe Castle, Bere Regis and Wool.

Mr McCabe said: "Contrary to popular belief, registering an interest does not mean they have to sign up to broadband when it becomes available, however it does mean the telephone exchange will be enabled, which in turn gives every individual the option to choose.

"Our efforts are not solely focused on Wareham and Swanage, we are trying to find solutions for the whole of the Purbecks."

He is urging people to register themselves on a local community website which has been set up as part of the campaign for broadband - details can be found at www.purbeckbroadband.co.uk.

"I've spoken to other businesses around Wareham and when they have asked about broadband, BT has simply said it's not available in this area," he said.

"They are not being told about our campaign, but unless we reach this target number together we won't get broadband."