More than 7,000 households across Dorset will benefit from "future proof" broadband as part of a £5billion scheme.

Wessex Internet, based in Blandford, has been awarded a contract to deliver a next-generation broadband roll-out across parts of north and east Dorset.

It is expected the first homes and businesses will be connected by the end of this year, with the roll-out completed by 2025.

The project is part of the government's £5billion Project Gigabit programme.

Boris Johnson visited Henbury Farm in Sturminster Marshall, during his last week as Prime Minister, to announce the lightning-fast broadband boost for homes and businesses in rural Dorset.

As reported, he said the“driving out” of gigabit broadband across the countryside “will deliver the basic fundamentals for prosperity and growth for decades to come”.

Mr Johnson said: "What we’re looking at here is the effort of companies up and down the country, but particularly here is North Dorset where what they’re doing is putting in gigabit broadband at an incredible pace and they’re doing it with Government support.”

Dorset Council has received nearly £900,000 of funding as part of the scheme

Earlier in the year the local authority identified 35 sites - including 22 schools - that were among the first to benefit from the early roll-out in June.

Houses from Sherborne to Wimborne will benefit as part of this latest phase with precise locations to be announced at a later date.

Councillor Jill Haynes, Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for Corporate Development and Transformation, said: “This significant government investment in Dorset is great news for communities and businesses that would otherwise have been left behind as the country moves to gigabit-capable broadband.

“Good broadband connection has never been more important as we rebuild the economy after the pandemic.

“We look forward to working with Wessex Internet and the government on this exciting development in technology, which will greatly benefit some of the most rural parts of our county.”

There will be a second phase of Project Gigabit for rural areas in the rest of Dorset that are not included in commercial broadband plans.

The procurement process for this is expected to launch at the end of September 2023.

Anyone with poor broadband who would like further advice can email the council’s digital team at connectingdorset@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk