VILLAGE halls, pubs and similar buildings in 14 West Somerset communities are being connected to broadband with IT training provided for residents. The fast internet service is available, whether for community, business or personal use, and a broadband 'champion' has been appointed in each community to analyse need. Government funding for the pilot scheme has been obtained by a partnership between West Somerset district and the county councils. Up to 800 hours of free training is available, delivered by the Exmoor Community Computer Centre. It covers everything from introductory courses for complete novices through to more advanced offerings for those more familiar with IT. Each person who attends is given the use of a high- performance laptop computer and broadband internet for the course duration. Training sessions have already begun in the Greyhound Inn, Stogursey, and in Sampford Brett Village Hall, and further sessions are taking place between now and the end of June. From July to September, training will be delivered in Old Cleeve - which also takes in Roadwater and Washford - and in Bridgetown together with Exton and Winsford. The other communities taking part in the pilot are Dulverton, Brompton Regis, Cutcombe, Huish Champflower, Crowcombe, Porlock, Exford, Dunster, Luxborough and Withycombe, where training will be rolled out in the coming months. The pilot is being administered Westlabb Ltd, a not-for-profit company set up especially by the partnership, which is funding the broadband connection for each venue for the first 12 months. District Cllr Roger Webber, who is a director of Westlabb and holds the council's portfolio for economic development and rural affairs, said: "This is a wonderful example of local authorities working together in partnership to bring 21st century technology into the heart of our rural communities. "Residents are being given the opportunity to reap the many and varied benefits of a high-speed internet facility which might otherwise be beyond their reach because of the commercial costs involved. "I anticipate that it is going to be hugely successful and it will be the forerunner of a scheme to help many other rural communities throughout Somerset who will be able to follow the example of West Somerset." To book places on the training courses in Stogursey, Sampford Brett, Old Cleeve and Bridgetown phone Jo Hoare on 01643 851594. For general IT training information for residents and businesses on Exmoor visit http://www.winsfordcentre.org.uk">www.winsfordcentre.org.uk Pictured at a Stogursey training session are, seated in front, broadband champion Maurice Brett, who covers Stogursey, Holford, Kilve and Stringston, with chairman of the district council's rural affairs task and finish group Cllr Terry Ayre, standing on the left, and Jon Summers, who is a director of Westlabb Ltd.