Only 55% of people in the South West have access to broadband

Redruth Brewery is the 1,000th business in the county to switch on to broadband under a scheme backed with �5m of European Objective One money.

Under the Act Now scheme, Cornish companies can choose from a range of packages, starting at �34.95 a month.

Another 2,000 customers have also taken advantage of broadband.

Rural access

Redruth Brewery, founded in 1742, claims to be the second oldest in Britain.

It says it needs to use high-speed e-mail to exchange substantial documents and graphics with customers across the world.

Devon County Council has also been approached by BT to help provide broadband access across the county.

BT wants the council to spend �300,000 to help promote take-up of broadband in rural areas.

Currently only urban areas of the county such as Newton Abbot, Exeter, Exmouth and Barnstaple have access because there is sufficient interest from local people.

The government wants the UK to have the most competitive and extensive broadband market in Europe by 2005.

Across the country, it estimates that more than 80% of people have access to the service.

But in the South West, only about 55% of the population can use it.