HOUSEHOLDS in Pembrokeshire are among the least likely in Wales to have broadband internet access, says the Welsh Consumer Council.

The shocking fact was highlighted in the Welsh Assembly by Preseli Pembrokeshire AM Paul Davies who said that 42 per cent of Welsh households have no access to broadband internet.

And the Consumer Council states that mid and west Wales have the most severe "not-spot" problems, he added.

"In some parts of my constituency, it is nigh on impossible to receive broadband," Mr Davies told the Senedd during a debate on the issue.

He went on to question an assembly government decision to spend £250,000 on a contract to discover how to solve the broadband "not spot" problem.

"Surely this money would be better spent on installing direct solutions to the problem rather than on yet more advice on solving the problem," said Mr Davies.

"Rather than waste £250,000 on learning something that we already know, would it not have been better to invest in some companies that specialise in delivering broadband services?"

He highlighted the work of TFL Group of Neyland who provide wireless internet solutions and who say they could solve the broadband problems of Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion for that much money.

"We need to ensure that taxpayers' money is spent on improving the situation and delivering the services at the sharp end," he added.