VILLAGERS in Acle could start their own broadband company in an effort to tackle the problems with snailspeed internet connections.Acle Parish Council has agreed to support a proposal from Chris Eaves, a parish councillor with neighbouring Upton with Fishley, to look into setting up a broadband firm similar to one set up in the East Midlands county of Rutland.

VILLAGERS in Acle could start their own broadband company in an effort to tackle the problems with snailspeed internet connections.

Acle Parish Council has agreed to support a proposal from Chris Eaves, a parish councillor with neighbouring Upton with Fishley, to look into setting up a broadband firm similar to one set up in the East Midlands county of Rutland.

Pauline James, parish clerk at Acle, said the village's current broadband was too slow and residents had complained it was difficult to watch internet application iplayer, which plays TV over the internet.

She said: “Certainly, where I live it is difficult to watch iplayer. It is frustrating more than anything.”

In Rutland, the residents clubbed together and stumped up �37,000 of their own money to create Rutland Telecom, pumping information into about 50 homes at speeds up to 10 times the national average.

Campaigners in Norfolk have been fighting to secure faster broadband after the county missed out on three successive roll outs of BT broadband.

Gorleston is set to benefit from new highspeed broadband access by April next year, BT has revealed. It marks the last phase in a nationwide pledge to improve internet access giving up to 12,000 homes and businesses the same 24Mb connection already available in Great Yarmouth.