Many people living in rural areas are still having problems connecting to high-speed broadband services, it has been suggested.

A new report from the Country Land & Business Association (CLA) suggests that recent statistics from communications watchdog Ofcom paint an inaccurate picture of broadband usage in rural areas.

The Ofcom report suggested that for the first time, there are now more broadband users in rural areas than there are in cities and towns throughout the UK.

However, CLA deputy president William Worsley said that there are still distinct problems with widespread access.

"The digital divide is about availability and the fact remains that in a significant number of rural areas, ADSL broadband access is simply not available," he said.

He added that speeds experienced in the countryside are often "appallingly slow", something which is making some rural businesses unviable.

Despite Ofcom's assertion that the digital divide is over, Mr Worsley concluded by suggesting that "all is not rosy" in the provision of rural broadband services.