VILLAGERS could miss out on the full benefits of Broadband Internet because they live too far from their telephone exchange.

BT is to upgrade the New Brancepeth exchange, which serves villages such as Bearpark, Esh Winning and Langley Park, to give ten times faster access to the worldwide web.

The new system will also enable the use of telephones at the same time on the same line as a computer.

But computer users at Langley Park who subscribe to the service will not be able to enjoy the full benefits of the high-speed connection.

A BT spokesman said people living near the exchange would get the faster service.

"With the technology that we have, we can provide service up to approximately five- and-a-half kilometres from the telephone exchange.

"The signal that comes down the line reduces with distance. There is a limit on the technology.''

He said that the company was working on a trial to extend the range of the system, including looking at radio and satellite technology.

Malcolm Howe, a Sunderland College IT lecturer, who lives on the outskirts of the village, was one of the 400 subscribers who registered an interest in Broadband, not knowing there was a limit to the technology.

He said: "BT said we could not have it because the quality of the line was not good enough, which seems a farce.

"It could affect everyone in Langley Park potentially, as well as people in Esh or Quebec. This has put the whole kybosh on it.

"I think this a problem that will affect people mainly in rural areas rather than urban areas because there is more chance of them being more than 5.5 kilometres away from the exchange. I think something needs to be done for the people of rural communities because they want to be able to access Broadband."

Esh Parish Council had supported the campaign by local computer enthusiasts to get enough interest for the exchange to be upgraded.

Council clerk Mike Ackroyd said he was unaware of the problem with distances.

"I am disappointed to hear this,'' he said.