A COMPUTER expert celebrating winning through to the finals of a national competition is disheartened after thieves disrupted his business.

Tim Snape provides high-speed internet access for rural businesses through his company Abbotsbury Software, based at West Yard Barn, Abbotsbury.

He operates wireless networks in Dorset and Somerset for the benefit of customers who cannot access standard internet services because of where they live.

Mr Snape was in the process of joining the networks together when someone vandalised a wireless broadband mast and stole the wind generator that powers it.

It is the third time in as many years that thieves have pinched one of his generators from isolated locations in West Dorset.

The news comes after Mr Snape heard his company had been shortlisted for an ISPA award - the UK internet industry awards.

The latest theft, which is being investigated by police, happened at a secluded spot known as Horn Hill on the Beaminster to Crewkerne Road.

Mr Snape said: "The purpose of this site was to connect up the two networks of West Somerset Internet and West Dorset Internet in order to create one single wireless network. This would make it the largest network of its kind in the UK.

"We will work around the problem as there are alternative links that I can use but it is just very disappointing that things like this happen in the rural parts of the county."

He added: "Because the mast was wind-powered it was completely environmentally friendly.

"The generator is the type you can pick up for about £400 in the shops.

Bolted "It's very frustrating. I had one pinched a while ago and it disrupted connections in the Askerswell area.

"Farmers suffer from this type of crime all the time. It's difficult to insure gear which is not bolted down."

Mr Snape, who has won awards for his work in the past, said he was delighted his company was a finalist at the ISPA awards, which he described as the 'Oscars of the UK internet industry'.

The firm is up against three multi-million pound companies in the category for Best Wireless Internet Service Provider (ISP).

The winner will be announced on February 15.