A rural community is nearing its target to achieve faster and more efficient access to the Internet.

But a final push is needed to reach the threshold of 350 expressions of interest in a broadband connection before the service will be provided for communities in the Deerness and Browney valleys, west of Durham city.

While larger towns and districts mostly in the east and centre of Durham already have broadband connections, there is less demand in the sparsely populated, more remote villages of the north-west of the county.

But businesses in the adjoining valleys fear they may be left behind without better access to the Internet.

Following inquiries with BT earlier this year, a minimum figure of 400 users was given as the starting point to make the necessary improvements to the New Brancepeth telephone exchange.

But that figure was recently reduced to 350, leaving a shortfall of 23.

The exchange serves several villages, including Langley Park, Bearpark, Ushaw Moor, parts of Esh Winning, Cornsay Colliery, Esh Village and Quebec.

Esh Parish Council, which is backing the drive to upgrade the exchange capability to provide broadband services, is now urging any other potential customers to come forward.

Parish clerk Mike Ackroyd said: "We put out an appeal in March when we had the original target of 400 and we were quickly into the 250s.

"Since then it has gone up to 327, but the trigger threshold has now been reduced to 350, so we are nearly there.

"A lot of other areas are in the same situation, but I am sure with an extra push we will achieve the target.

"It is almost at people's fingertips, in more way than one.

"Hopefully, people who use the Internet will give it some thought and realise the benefits it will bring, not only to themselves but to the community as a whole," said Mr Ackroyd.

Broadband uses phone lines but operates at ten times the speed of standard Internet connections.

Anyone wishing to register an expression of interest in the broadband service should contact www.bt.com/broadband