RESIDENTS of West Devon are being urged to vote in the race for super-fast broadband.

Households and businesses can demonstrate local demand for fibre broadband by taking part in a nationwide BT survey, run as a competition called the 'Race to Infinity.'

The race runs until December 31 and BT will upgrade the five UK exchanges with the highest demand by early 2012 at the latest. BT is also pledging to engage with any community not winning the competition where at least 75% of homes and businesses have voted for super-fast broadband.

BT's South West regional director Jon Reynolds said: 'This is a golden opportunity for people in Devon to demonstrate the level of demand for fibre broadband in their communities. This data will help determine where fibre broadband will be deployed over the next few years so it's vital for the county that residents take the time to complete this survey and help keep Devon at the forefront of the broadband revolution.'

Participants can vote by entering their postcode on the website: http://www.bt.com/racetoinfinit">www.bt.com/racetoinfinit, which will show the number and percentage of votes received for each exchange. The site will display the top five exchanges leading the race as exchanges hit 1,000 votes.

In West Devon Tavistock currently has the highest number of votes with 427 followed by Yelverton, 194, Sticklepath, 119 and North Tawton, 118.

Other communities in the borough which have received votes include Bere Alston, Mary Tavy, Lydford, Postbridge, Chagford, Okehampton, Hatherleigh and Black Torrington.