A BURY MP has urged a minister to do more to help small businesses in Ramsbottom and surrounding areas.

Speaking in Parliament, Bury North MP David Nuttall said that despite campaigning to improve broadband speeds, large parts of the town were still without superfast broadband.

Mr Nuttall addressed Elizabeth Truss, the secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs and said: “Residents in the rural parts of my constituency, such as Affetside and Holcombe, which after all are just a few miles from Manchester city centre, are 100 per cent unconnected to superfast broadband.

“Some of them are trying to run small businesses, and for them it is cold comfort to know that nearly everyone else has a good internet connection.

“I urge my right honorary friend to ask her colleagues across Government to ensure that superfast broadband is rolled out to rural areas, especially those near big cities.”

Miss Truss reassured Mr Nuttall that, in Bury North, superfast broadband should be available to 99 per cent of premises by 2017.

She said: “I note that in Bury North superfast broadband should be available to 99 per cent of premises by 2017, and I will be working very hard to ensure that the one per cent also have access to high-speed services.”