Engineering work is due to start next month to connect more than 2,400 homes around the Stroud Valleys to full fibre broadband.

The work in Chalford, Eastcombe and Brownshill is part of a £130 million infrastructure investment in rural Gloucestershire by telecoms company Gigaclear.

The work is due for completion next autumn, with the first residents expected to have access by spring 2024.

Senior project manager Beth Dale said: "We're already extending our network to 460 homes in Chalford Hill with subsidy from the Government's Building Digital UK (BDUK) scheme but the work starting next month is being carried out by us on a commercial basis.

"Rural communities around the Stroud Valleys deserve a fast and reliable broadband service but up until now, many residents have had to put up with speeds far slower than they would want or need.

"We're investing heavily in rural Gloucestershire to make sure residents living in under-served communities such as Chalford, Brownshill and Eastcombe are just as able to work from home, stream online entertainment, scroll and gameplay as people living in more urban areas."

During the engineering work, Gigaclear will be utilising existing Openreach ducts and poles wherever possible in order to minimise disruption.