INTERNET surfers in Pewsey are being urged to register their interest in having a Broadband connection after being left out of the exchanges being considered for installation with the new equipment.

Although 118 local people have registered with their Internet service providers so far, BT says it is looking for a minimum of 200 registrations before it will contemplate holding a review to see if investment would be financially viable for it.

It costs between £250,000 and £500,000 to install Broadband equipment in a telephone exchange.

This has angered local surfers, including Rupert Chandler, who has run into a brick wall despite the news that Marlborough is to be connected to Broadband on June 4.

Mr Chandler said: "Pewsey is in danger of becoming an Internet backwater compared to its bigger neighbour. It seems very unfair that, as Wiltshire's largest village, Pewsey should be abandoned in a way that will directly affect its viability to attract investment and jobs."

He urges local people to visit the website www.btopenworld.com/votebroadband and register their interest, which will not obligate them in any way to signing up to the Broadband services, if and when it comes in.