Thousands of additional rural homes and businesses in County Durham and Tees Valley are to benefit from high-speed fibre broadband thanks to a government funding boost.

More than £1m via an application under the Rural Community Broadband Fund is to be invested in extending fibre broadband coverage in the Durham and Tees Valley areas, following the success of a collaborative bid between Durham County Council and the Tees Valley councils.

The money, along with an additional investment of £300,000 from project partner BT, will mean the programme will extend the reach of next generation fibre broadband to a further 3,500 homes and businesses.

Managed as part of the Digital Durham programme, the additional resource complements the Broadband Delivery UK roll out, and will help achieve fibre coverage across 98 per cent of County Durham. Further funding opportunities will be explored with the aim of extending coverage to every home, business and community in the county.