High-speed fibre broadband will reach a further 18 rural Shropshire communities, as part of a continuing £24.6m council partnership.

Announcing the latest wave of sites set to receive access to fibre broadband, Shropshire Council said 93% of the region's homes and businesses would be able to access fast Internet speeds by Spring 2016.

Designed to drive broadband rollout where commercial companies might not provide it, Connecting Shropshire is a partnership between Shropshire Council, BT and the Government's Broadband Delivery UK.

Shropshire Council cabinet member responsible for broadband, Steve Charmley, said: 'It's great to be able to confirm even more areas as part of the first phase of the programme.

'For the people and businesses in these rural communities it'll mean that they will be able to gain access to higher broadband speeds sooner than they thought; in this day and age, it's becoming ever more important to have fast and reliable broadband to get on in business and in life.'

BT's regional director for the West Midlands, Mike Cook, said: 'The Internet is playing an increasingly important part in all our lives which is why the strong progress being made by Connecting Shropshire is so important'

The latest wave of sites set to receive high speed broadband by Spring 2014:

•Alberbury
• Aston on Clun
• Boningale
• Clungunford
• Cosford
• Cross Lane Head
• Halfway House
• Little Brampton
• Ploxgreen
• Pontesford
• Purslow
• Quatford
• Snailbeach
• Stoke St. Milborough
• Upton Magna
• Westbury
• Withington
• Yockleton