Thousands of Hertfordshire households are set to benefit from “lightning-fast” internet as part of a £800 million national scheme.

The deal between telecoms provider Openreach and the government will see upgrades to broadband infrastructure rolled out to 312,000 rural homes and businesses across the UK, including to almost 7,000 properties in Hertfordshire.

It comes after Morriston Close in South Oxhey was named last year as having the slowest broadband speeds in the UK according to a survey of 250,000 addresses nationwide by comparison company Broadband Genie Speed.

Residents had an average down speed of 0.6Mb, meaning it could take them almost two days to download the Avengers: Endgame film.

Project Gigabit will instead aim to make sure “no community is left behind” as it will target areas which are not commercially viable for private providers to invest in.

Better internet connections should in turn stimulate local economies, reduce regional disparities and attract new businesses to Hertfordshire, according to HCC.

HCC deputy executive member for resources and performance councillor John Graham said: “We welcome this investment in the UK’s digital infrastructure for our Hertfordshire residents and businesses. 

“Digital inclusion is vital in ensuring that rural communities are connected and that lower income families have access to affordable tariffs.”