SUPERFAST broadband has started to become available in East Cornwall.

The first homes and businesses in and around St Cleer, Menheniot and Dobwalls now have access to the high-speed technology three months ahead of schedule.

They are among the first Cornish communities to get superfast broadband in the first main phase of the Superfast Cornwall roll-out programme.

The technology is planned to 'go live' in further locations – including other parts of Liskeard exchange area, Callington and Drakewalls (near Gunnislake) later this month.

By the end of March superfast broadband will be available to about 90,000 Cornish premises.

Susan Perkins, manageress at the White Hart Hotel in the centre of Menheniot, is all set to order superfast broadband.

She says: 'It's wonderful that we are now able to order superfast broadband and it is incredibly exciting to be among the first in the UK to get it.

'This means we will be able to offer superfast internet to our guests and also to visitors to the pub. This should really boost our business and increase our repeat custom.

'We are going to really make the most of this terrific opportunity to be one of the first few superfast pubs in Britain. It's going to help us streamline all the tasks to do with running the business, saving us time and money. It's a great anniversary present for Jonathan Thomas, who has been running the White Hart for 16 years this week.'

Customers can check their phone line at http://www.superfastcornwall.org">www.superfastcornwall.org