Communications minister Ed Vaizey MP has launched superfast broadband in the village of Ainderby Steeple, near Northallerton.

The ancient village, which is mentioned in the Domesday Book, became the first community to benefit from the multimillion-pound Superfast North Yorkshire project.

Mr Vaizey said: “This is a landmark moment for not only North Yorkshire, but for rural areas around UK. High-speed broadband connectivity will provide a major boost to local economies, helping create the right conditions for growth, and it’s fitting that the first village to benefit from the Government’s £530 million rural broadband scheme is located in the country’s largest rural county.”

A further 250 homes and businesses in Selby will also have access to broadband speeds of up to 80Mbps before Christmas.