Community leaders in Whitchurch are desperate for the Hampshire village to hold onto its top five spot in BT's Race to Infinity.

With just a few days of of voting left, Whitchurch sits in fifth place in the rankings, looking over its shoulder as the prospect of fibre broadband beckons.

Under the BT initative, the five communities receiving the highest proportion of votes for super-fast broadband will be prioritised for an upgrade – meaning local people will have next-generation internet access by 2012 as opposed to 2015.

Some 81 per cent of residents in Whitchurch – more than 2,000 people – have voted for a fibre upgrade in the village, but votes are still pouring in for rivals around the country.

Local businessman Andrew Moss, who has been supporting the campaign, told the Basingstoke Gazette that the Race to Infinity is "a fantastic opportunity" for the village.

"The way people have got behind this is a credit to the village itself," he stated.

Households still looking to support the case for a broadband upgrade in their community have until December 31st to make their vote count.