DIGITAL TV customers in Bury and elsewhere in Greater Manchester are helping create a world first.

For thanks to NTL, they are now able to receive high-speed broadband Internet services.

All they have to do is simply connect their digital TV set top-box, which features an embedded cable modem, to their personal computer wherever it is in the home.

This means that with a high-speed network that already passes over one million in Greater Manchester, the region will lead Britain's high speed Internet push and help drive the UK up the world's broadband league table.

By using the breakthrough technology, Bury NTL customers at home will be able to access the Internet via their PC at around nine times faster than is currently possible with a standard dial-up connection.