SUPERFAST fibre broadband is now available to more than 600 premises across Widnes as Connecting Cheshire’s roll-out continues in Halton.

The £28.5 million partnership has linked the town to its new fibre-optic network, bringing speeds of up to 80 megabits per second.

Halton Council leader Clr Rob Polhill said: “I’m pleased that these particular areas of Widnes have joined other parts of the borough and gone live with fibre broadband.

“It’s a priority to our local communities and it’s good that our work as part of the Connecting Cheshire partnership has brought fibre broadband to the area.”

A team of more than 100 engineers and planners from Openreach, BT’s local network business, has taken on the challenge of bringing fibre to Cheshire.

They will upgrade exchanges and networks with more than 875 miles of fibre-optic cable. More than 400 new road-side cabinets will be installed as part of the project.

Halton Clr Ron Hignett, board member for physical environment, said: “Fibre broadband is increasingly essential to help us boost our local economy; businesses can make great use of the new opportunities high speed internet access offers and it will help to create and protect local jobs.

“For residents there are many advantages to be had with entertainment, online shopping and comparing prices and keeping in touch with family and friends.”

Mike Blackburn, BT’s north west regional director, said: “The BT team is working flat out to bring high-speed broadband to Cheshire, Halton and Warrington.

“This is a complex engineering task that will ensure people and businesses across Cheshire can have fibre broadband as part of their everyday lives and work.”