Superfast broadband is reaching thousands more homes and businesses across Fenland as the Connecting Cambridgeshire roll-out programme gathers pace.

Now, as part of the national Get Online Week, councils and housing providers are working together to help people make the most of high-speed internet access for shopping, socialising and essential services.

More than 3,350 premises in Fenland can now upgrade to faster speeds - with many more to come over the next year.

New green cabinets have gone live in Doddington, March, Manea, Mepal, Whittlesey, and Wimblington, with Benwick, Christchurch, Elm, Gorefield, Tydd St Giles, Leverington, Wisbech and Wisbech St Mary scheduled to be connected by March 2015.

These are in addition to existing commercial broadband coverage in Chatteris, March, Whittlesey and Wisbech.

This week Connecting Cambridgeshire, Fenland District Council and Circle Housing Roddons team up for a bus tour of Fenland market towns.

Fenland Council’s New Horizons bus will visit market places, libraries, housing estates and supermarket car parks to show people how to get connected and get online as follows:

• Tuesday, October 14 - Wisbech market place (11am-1pm); Tesco Extra (2-4pm).

• Wednesday, October 15 - March Library (10.30am-12.30pm); Manor Estate, Doddington (1.30-3pm).

• Thursday, October 16 - Whittlesey market place (11am-1pm); Chatteris, opposite swimming pool (2-4pm).

Fenland residents can find out when they will be able get faster broadband and how they can help their community to get connected - and there is a chance to win a tablet device in a prize draw supported by local retailers.

Advisers from Circle Housing’s Making Money Count team, Cambridgeshire County Council learning centres and community digital volunteers will be on hand, together with members of Connecting Cambridgeshire.

County councillor Ian Bates, chairman of the economy and environment committee which is leading the Connecting Cambridgeshire programme, said: “Parts of Fenland have some of the best broadband coverage in the county with many of the market towns already connected with high speed fibre.

“We want to ensure that all our residents and businesses can make the most of a fast-changing digital world which means helping people get online and use digital technology at home and at work.”

Alan Pain, Fenland Council’s corporate director, said: “Getting online means people can save money, pay bills, download entertainment, keep in touch and get health advice.”

Anne Brighton, managing director at Circle Housing Roddons, said: “We are committed to empowering and encouraging our customers to get online and to help them use the internet to develop skills and build confidence.”