AN INTERNET expert has brought fibre optic broadband to a remote Test Valley hamlet – using a shed in his back garden.

Nick Bell, 63, has set up a superfast internet service in Upton, using a shed to broadcast the connection to the community’s approximately 250 residents.

The idea began when the father-of-three, who has operated an IT business from his Upton home for more than 20 years, began exploring ways of improving internet speed in the area.

The 63-year-old subsequently contacted BT to ask about the cost of installing a fibre optic cable to his five-bedroom house.

Faced with a £10,000 bill, he began looking at ways to cut the cost, including applying for a £3,000 grant and obtaining a discount from BT.

After trawling the internet for more ideas, Mr Bell came across Basingstoke-based internet expert Tim Robinson.

The pair met and discussed an idea to transmit the superfast internet to fellow Upton residents, using a shed to host the router.

Together the pair set themselves up as an official internet service provider (ISP) and are now selling the superfast broadband to the residents of Upton.

Twenty households have since signed up to the scheme, as well as local watering-hole, The Crown Inn.

Explaining the idea, Mr Bell said: “I run my own small business so it was a huge overhead for me.

“My plan was to get it in and then to share it around as it is a good thing for people to have and also to help share the cost.”

The father-of-three added that scheme was not a money making venture, but had been beneficial to residents and businesses in the village.

He added: “People in Upton are really pleased and a few are now saying they can work from home and they are really thankful for that.

“I think superfast broadband is very important these days.

“I saw a survey not that long ago which said that decent quality of broadband supply was as important to people as a water supply.

“Nowadays a lot of modern applications need super fast broadband.

“It is something people rely on.”