RURAL areas of Dorset have some of the slowest broadband speeds in the UK.

House of Commons Library research revealed that the constituencies of North Dorset, South Dorset and West Dorset are among the top 100 for worst connection speeds.

The data has come to light as Liberal Democrat leadership hopeful Layla Moran MP called for extra ultra-fast broadband support in rural areas of the UK, warning that hundreds of thousands of people are stuck in the digital slow lane.

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Eighteen of the slowest broadband speeds across the UK are in the South West.

Ms Moran wants the Government to prioritise improving broadband in the UK’s hardest-to-reach communities, offering increased subsidies for ultra-fast broadband in rural areas and for business rates relief on broadband infrastructure to be extended by another 15 years.

In March, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a £5billion investment to introduce gigabit-capable broadband across the whole of the UK, following an election pledge by the Conservatives to bring full-fibre and gigabit-capable broadband to every home and business in Britain by 2025.