AN EAST Lancashire businessman has criticised British Telecom for holding back his business by failing to provide a broadband internet service in the Padiham area.

Geoff Hodbod, of Simonstone based multi-media services 3-D Imaging, said the broadband system would make using the internet much quicker and better quality.

BT have installed broadband in Burnley but say there is not enough interest in the Padiham area and surrounding villages to make installing it there cost effective.

Mr Hodbod, whose firm's projects include a computer generated reconstruction of Clitheroe Castle for a history project, said: "The broadband service makes using the internet about ten times quicker and also improves the audio and the pictures you can receivem but BT have said there needs to be 400 people in this area who say they want it before they will consider installing it." Currently only about 50 people have registered with BT.

Mr Hodbod added: "Broadband would be of great value to a business like ours and I'd really like to see it installed. If people are interested I would urge them to get on to the BT website and register their interest so we can all benefit."

A spokesman for British Telecom said: "People interested in having broadband should log onto

www.bt.com/broadband. They will then be able to log their interest and see how many other people on the exchange have done so.

"I would like to stress building broadband Britain is at the heart of BT's strategy. The company is committed to bringing the technology to as many people as possible -- but we have to do this in a cost-effective way. We need to be sure we are getting a return on our multi-million pound investment.

"The introduction of the registration scheme is designed to help us target our on-going roll out programme even more effectively.

We have already enabled 1,116 exchanges nationally -- several in your area.

"However, where it does not prove commercially viable to upgrade an exchange, BT is committed to looking at alternative means of bringing the benefits of broadband."