VAST swathes of West Somerset are currently being left standing in the race to persuade telecommunications giant BT to bring super-fast broadband to the district.

In October, the company launched its 'Race to Infinity' campaign, which encouraged households and businesses across the county to demonstrate the local demand for super-fast broadband by taking part in a nationwide survey.

The five UK-wide districts polling the highest response before the closing date on December 31 will have their local exchanges upgraded by early 2012 at the latest.

But if a snapshot of the current response rate in West Somerset is anything to go by, it seems super-fast fibre broadband will not be arriving in the district any time soon.

On a local level, Crowcombe and Stogumber are way ahead of the rest of the district, with Crowcombe polling 58 votes representing 23.97 per cent of the population.

Stogumber is next with 60 votes representing 11.34 per cent of residents, while Dulverton has 45 votes, representing 3.81 per cent of the population.

Bishops Lydeard in nearby Taunton Deane has 364 votes covering 13.9 per cent of residents.

Wiveliscombe has notched-up 139 votes or 8.36 per cent, just ahead of Nether Stowey with 107 votes representing 7.56 per cent.

Williton has 62 votes representing just 1.83 per cent of residents, Washford 20 votes (1.7 per cent), Porlock 15 votes (1.31 per cent). Minehead 71 votes (1.18 per cent), Dunster eight votes (0.79 per cent), Lydeard St Lawrence five votes (1.91 per cent), Winsford five votes (1.7 per cnet), Holford five votes (1.27 per cent), Timberscombe six votes (1.11 per cent) and Brompton Regis just a single vote (0.26 per cent).

The questionnaire is available online at http://www.bt.com/racetoinfinity">www.bt.com/racetoinfinity until the end of the month.

BT has also promised to "engage" with any community that does not win the competition but where 75 per cent of homes and businesses have voted for super-fast broadband.

Jon Reynolds, BT's South West regional director, said: "This is a golden opportunity for people in Somerset to demonstrate the level of demand for fibre broadband in their communities.

"This data will help determine where fibre broadband will be deployed over the next few years so it's vital for the county that residents take the time to complete this survey and help keep Somerset at the forefront of the broadband revolution."

The BT website will show which five exchanges are leading the race once the hit rate reaches 1,000 votes.