An engineering firm from Gloucestershire is at the heart of a little-known project to tunnel under the River Severn - beginning on Monday (October 14).

Maisemore-based Complete Utilities is the firm doing the clever and no doubt rather testing work to connect both sides of the tidal river as part of the Fastershire project.

When complete the tunnel will become the route for new fibre for broadband infrastructure, connecting up hundreds of homes and businesses in the Longney and Framilode area.

"We estimate there will be as many as 800 homes connected with the new broadband," said a spokeswoman for Gigaclear, which is driving the project forward.

"Digging will start from Monday. Gigaclear is the business to lay broadband under the Severn. Fibre has been hung across the river before as overhead cables, but because this stretch of the river still sees large boats travelling up and down it was necessary to adopt a more innovative approach.

"Gigaclear is working with Complete Utilities to lay the infrastructure."

There is no date set for when the homes and businesses will feel the benefit.

According to Gigaclear, the project will "future-proof broadband solution, much faster than their current internet connection".

The Fastershire/Gigaclear partnership has been in place since June 2016 with the rollout budget including £3 million from the Fastershire project and £7 million from Gigaclear.

Complete Utilities is Gigaclear's primary contractor.

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