RESIDENTS in Kirkby are now able to enjoy speedy internet access - but efforts are ongoing to extend the service to more households. 

A campaign in the village has been calling for faster internet speeds and the fight has been taken to Parliament by Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock. 

As signs on the roadside have confirmed, three fibre broadband cabinets have now gone live in Kirby, providing fibre broadband access to more than 580 premises. 

A BT spokesman said customers can contact their desired service provider to place an order for the high-speed fibre broadband technology. 

He added: "BT’s multi billion pound investment in superfast broadband through its involvement in partnerships, such as Connecting Cumbria, and its own commercial programme, has already made fibre broadband available to 77 per cent of households and businesses in Cumbria – and the number is continuing to grow rapidly. 

"Engineers from BT’s local network business, Openreach, are rolling out the technology at a world class pace, reaching almost 4,000 more premises every month."

MP Mr Woodcock said he was still working to improve the situation for more people in rural parts of his constituency. 

He is working alongside members of Furness rural communities to gather information about broadband connection weak spots with the aim of presenting the data to BT. 

He said: “Superfast broadband connections have arrived at more homes in the Kirkby area. 

“That is good news, but we need to keep up the pressure on BT because some areas – including Grizebeck – are still being left behind. 

“Homes and businesses cannot function properly in the 21st century without the latest broadband technology.

"That is why I have raised this issue in parliament and held meetings with BT senior management.”