NEW Government analysis has shone a spotlight on the poor broadband speeds across all areas of Winsford and Middlewich.

The Government has published data showing broadband speeds following analysis carried out in a time in which many people are relying more than ever on their internet connection.

As Covid-19 means many of us are working and socialising from home, we depend more than ever on a reliable internet connection.

But for people living in Winsford and Middlewich, working from home over the past few months may have proven to be more of a challenge than they were expecting.

The figures show that all areas across both towns are in the bottom 30 per cent in the UK when it comes to average broadband speeds.

And one area of Winsford – Glebe Green – is in fact in the bottom 10 per cent in the UK.

Glebe Green’s average broadband speed is 34 Mbps, some way off the average UK speed of 60.9 Mbps and the average north west speed of 62.1 Mbps.

But even the area with the fastest average speed, Winsford Central, is a long way short of the UK average, with 40.5 Mbps.

The figures reflect speeds received rather than those available, as some people may have access to faster connections than the ones they pay for.

Earlier this year, the Government announced a £5 billion investment to roll out faster broadband to the hardest-to-reach areas across the nation.

But Andrew Ferguson, editor of Think Broadband, said some people could wait until 2025 to see the improvements.

He said: “With the pandemic highlighting how key broadband is for a functioning society, the need to address those worst off broadband-wise has never been clearer.”

A Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport spokesman said the Government is committed to bringing faster, gigabit-speed internet to the whole country – one gigabit is equal to 1,000 megabits.

The spokesman said: “We are determined to deliver on our gigabit commitment and are removing the barriers to industry accelerating broadband roll-out as well as investing £5 billion so the hardest-to-reach areas aren’t left behind.”