Superfast broadband has now reached three million homes and businesses as part of a Government pledge.

Almost 50,000 homes and businesses in Liverpool City Region have been reached, figures published today reveal.

More than 384,000 have been reached across the North West, with high speed fibre broadband available to 49,678 premises across the local authority areas of Wirral, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, and St Helens.

The "Broadband Delivery UK" scheme aims to provide superfast broadband speeds - at least 24 megabits per second - to 95% of the country by 2017, with ministers pointing to the latest figures as proof the plan is working.

Culture Secretary John Whittingdale said: “Reaching three million properties is a huge achievement and I’m delighted that this includes more than 384,000 in the North West.

The additional funding will be made available to local authorities to reinvest the money in providing further superfast broadband coverage to even more homes and businesses, and much earlier than originally planned.

Councillor Gary Millar, cabinet member for business and enterprise at Liverpool City Council, the lead local authority for Merseyside Connected, said: “I’m delighted Merseyside Connected has reached almost 50,000 premises across our region.

"Each month, even more green fibre-enabled street cabinets are being installed by Openreach engineers across the local authorities of Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St. Helens and Wirral.

“This is a really significant development for the people of Merseyside, to ensure the region can thrive business-wise in the digital age, but also to ensure residents can access valuable services and information online, find the best deals on products and services, and tap into all the latest entertainment and social media.”