THE first phase of a multi-million pound initiative to give people faster internet is complete.

Thanks to the Digital Durham programme around 100,000 homes and businesses have access to fibre broadband, while almost 90,000 of these premises can sigh up to superfast broadband.

Cllr Jane Brown, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for corporate services, said: “Digital Durham has brought significant benefits to businesses, residents and communities across the region and, with further work still to come, many more people are set to benefit.

“We are extremely proud that the initiative has been recognised by BDUK, the Government’s Broadband Delivery Programme, as one of the leading broadband initiatives across the country.”

The council is working with others in the region to deliver the scheme.

It is being delivered by BT, which was meant to reach 104,716 premises by July. Instead, it has exceeded that by reaching more than 107,000 properties, including 68,875 in County Durham.

The first phase had a budget of £25million.

The second phase, which sees a budget of £8.5million available to connect a further 29,000 premises to superfast services by December 2018, is now underway.