Virgin Media says installing broadband in Bradley Stoke “would not be viable” despite a high-profile campaign by The Bradley Stoke Examiner which attracted hundreds of backers.

The firm says it will not be bringing its fibre optic network to areas of the town which were not hooked up when the homes were built.

Currently, some 2,000 homes are without the network – and some 281 of those recently petitioned the firm to plea for faster broadband.

But it now appears the campaign will not work despite more than 10% saying outright that they would join Virgin Media.

A recent meeting also heard that the firm has also rejected pleas from Bradley Stoke Town Council.

The only saviour for homes, which are now officially some of the slowest areas in the South West of England, could be BT.

A technique called Fibre to the Cabinet – where fibre optics are used between street-end and exchange with copper wires completing the rest – is to be rolled out soon.

A company spokesman told us: “BT is planning to start its roll-out of superfast broadband (fibre to the cabinet) in January next year.

“Consumer trials are currently underway at Muswell Hill London and Whitchurch, Cardiff.”

The Bradley Stoke Examiner has already been lobbying BT to consider Bradley Stoke as a matter of priority but the firm would not be drawn on the order in which exchanges would be activated.