Maldon's MP has demanded more is done to improve broadband speed in the district after new figures revealed some villages have among the slowest rates in the country.

John Whittingdale told the House of Commons thousands of households in the district still cannot receive 10Mbps, the figure set by Ofcom as the minimum necessary.

In Purleigh the average speed of broadband is only 11.8 Mbps with about four in five households not getting the minimum.

In Tillingham 57.1 per cent don’t have the minimum speed and Althorne makes up the third district village which is among the worst ten per cent for broadband speeds in the country.

Mr Whittingdale, speaking to Matt Hancock, the secretary of state for culture, media and sport, said: “I congratulate the Government on the progress made in passing the 95 per cent target for coverage of superfast broadband.

“But what message can my right hon. friend give to the over 2,000 households in my constituency that are unable to receive 10 megabits per second, and particularly the over ten per cent of households in the village of Purleigh who cannot even receive 2 megabits per second?”

Mr Hancock promised work was ongoing to help these homes get better access to broadband.

He said: “The message I can give those households is that the cavalry is coming: this house has legislated so that everybody shall be able to get 10 megabits per second as an absolute minimum by 2020, and the minister of state, department for digital, culture, media and sport is driving the secondary legislation through necessary to make that happen.”

Elaine Davis-Allen, of Purleigh said her home rarely gets close to 7 Mbps.

She said: “I don’t know where they are getting the idea that the average speed in Purleigh is 11.8 Mbps, I doubt anyone is getting anything like that in the area. 

“On average our speed is probably around 4-5 Mbps and if its really humming I have had close to 7 Mbps.”

Elaine said her provider BT has said the village has a maximum download speed of 8Mbps.

She said: “They class anything above 3Mbps as acceptable. I was also informed that the expected upgrade (when it happens) should double the maximum speed to 16Mbps.

“So even after upgrade we will not come anywhere close to what parts of Chelmsford can get.

“I have a business in Woodham Ferrers and a speed test at our premises here have just given me 2.81 Mbps, so just as bad as Purleigh.”

Hannah Barber added: “I live in Purleigh. It’s awful they keep promising upgrades but we are yet to see it.”

Other readers said they only had 0.57 Mbps in Althorne and just 2 Mbps in Cold Norton.

And for those struggling to send an e-mail, who wouldn’t consider trying to download a film, news three quarters of homes are now up to about 30Mbps won’t help.

According to Government figures 6.5 per cent of the district doesn’t get the minimum speed – this compares to three per cent nationwide.