A SUCCESSFUL rural business is backing a campaign calling for faster broadband services in the countryside.

Sally Robinson operates her Amplebosom.com business from the tiny village of Old Byland, near Helmsley.

The company, which was founded in 1999, specialises in bras, underwear and swimwear for the fuller figured woman.

As a web-based mail order business, it is highly dependant on fast and reliable internet access.

Mrs Robinson did receive help from Yorkshire Forward to install satellite broadband access but finds the service to be very expensive and much slower than the broadband available in urban areas.

She said: “Small businesses like ours can be the lifeblood of tiny rural communities, offering welcome employment opportunities to people who might otherwise have to migrate to more p o p u l a t e d areas.”

The business is about to launch a more s o p h i s t i c a t e d website and is looking at 3G internet access via the mobile phone network to help achieve further growth.

She has thrown her support behind the Country Land and Business Association fight to win faster broadband services for rural businesses.

A report by the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform has recommended no Government investment in next generation access network.

But the CLA has described that view as “seriously blinkered”.

William Worsley, the Hovingham- based CLA vice-president, said the rural economy was being severely hampered.

It requires government investment to provide fast broadband services for all.

He said: “Not just regionally and nationally, but internationally, we are being left behind on this issue, losing our competitive edge by the day.

“Meanwhile, excellent businesses like Sally’s strive to compete with one hand tied behind their back.”

The digital divide left many rural areas unable to compete, illustrating the failings of relying solely on the private sector.

Mr Worsley said the longerterm solution must be a public and private sector partnership.

He said: “We are not talking about playing games and watching videos.

“The very future of British industry depends on this.

“If we are not careful, our hopes for the broadband of the future will be smothered under a flood of conflicting reports as the UK grinds to a halt while the rest of the world gets on and does it.”