Consumers and businesses in Barnsley town centre are now able to take advantage of free wireless broadband services, it has been reported.

South Yorkshire broadband provider Ask4 has teamed up with the Advanced Wireless Technology Group (AWTG) and Barnsley Council to launch the Wi-Fi service, which went live over the weekend.

The Barnsley Town Centre Wi-Fi network, which has taken six months to construct, has been funded entirely by the private sector and will have few operating costs.

It will operate for at least two years, enabling shoppers and local businesses to access the internet for free.

Owen Gleadall, Vice-President of the Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, said the Wi-Fi network was "a brilliant initiative". 

"The network will allow people to be online while they are mobile, which is sure to attract more people to the town centre and can only be very positive for retailers and other businesses," he stated.

Back in 2009, Swindon became the first town in the UK to announce plans for a free wireless broadband service for local people.