FIVE South Oxfordshire villages are leading the race to be among the first commmunities in the UK to have the next generation of super-fast broadband.

Blewbury, Upton, West Hagbourne, Aston Tirrold and Aston Upthorpe, which share the same telephone exchange have gathered more than 1,000 votes in the BT Race to Infinity promotion.

The exchange area that produces the highest percentage of votes from residents by December 31 will be upgraded with fibre-optic cable to provide fast broadband.

Latest figures show the Blewbury area is leading the way with more than 83 per cent of the population signed up, just ahead of Caxton in Cambridgeshire.

Commercial writer Chris Whatmore, of Blewbury, has launched a social media campaign, and a team of people have been using old-fashioned techniques of knocking on doors and meeting in pubs.

Mr Whatmore said: “Faster broadband is essential for people running businesses and for residents wanting to view Internet-based television programmes, download videos and for applications such as Skype.

“The existing network is reaching its limit and the future lies with fibre-optic cable. We are in the countryside and normally BT will get round to upgrading us last. We don’t want to be left behind. This is our chance of getting ahead, but we still need people to vote.”

The Government wants to see high-speed broadband across the country by 2015. If it wins, Blewbury will be upgraded three years earlier.

Graham de Wilde, co-ordinator for Upton, said: “Much of the success of our campaign to date has been purely down to word of mouth. That has made the target less daunting and having a friendly neighbour ask you whether you have voted is much less intrusive.”

The move by the villages came after Oxfordshire County Council said it was bidding for Government cash to extend broadband coverage.