Residents in Bournemouth are to begin receiving letters asking if they want to be hooked up to the new super-fast fibre optic broadband network.

The town is the first in the UK to be getting the technology, which will see cables laid in the sewers at a cost of £30 million.

Construction on the network will begin in September by H2O Networks and should take two years.

Because the existing sewer system is being used, installation costs will be reduced and this should be reflected in the price of the broadband for the end user.

"Bournemouth is incredibly privileged to have been chosen as the UK's first Fibrecity," Councillor Nick King said according to the Institute of Commercial Management website.

"This decision is a giant leap forward and gives us a real competitive advantage.

"Bournemouth really needs to embrace the many advantages that being a Fibrecity will bring and I am sure it will bring massive rewards to all homes and businesses that sign up to the services that this network will enable."

Dundee will be the next city to be given the technology, with 55,000 homes to be linked up.