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A small Oxfordshire village had to battle with BT for two years to get its local exchange upgraded to broadband, but residents say it has already had a huge impact.

Ashbury, near Swindon, had to pay the telecoms company £35,000 to install a broadband capable exchange locally as BT had argued it was not "economically viable" to upgrade the system for just 200 households.

However, government grants and funding from the South East Development Agency helped the villagers raise the necessary money and broadband was activated on December 18th last year.

According to villager and organiser of the fund-raising, Steve Treadwell, the effect of the faster communications has already been major.

"It's made an incredible difference - it just changes your life," he told the BBC.

"It's definitely improved community spirit. For a while I couldn't go to the pub without being pounced on by other residents."

Access to broadband also gives the villagers of Ashbury the chance to save on their phone calls by embracing VoIP.

The Vonagephone adaptor can be easily connected to a broadband-ready computer - enabling users to take advantage of cheap calls over the internet.