LARGE swathes of Thurrock are ignored in a new announcement by BT Openreach, which has detailed areas of Essex where it is planning to upgrade broadband services at a number of exchanges.

Only Orsett in Thurrock is included in a list announced at midnight of locations in the east of England where improvements are scheduled.

A map published by the company says that work is currently underway to improve broadband in the west of the borough, but areas like Tilbury, East Tilbury, Stanford-le-Hope and Corringham will miss out.

At midnight Openreach outlined plans to 'bring ultrafast, ultra-reliable Full Fibre broadband to at least three million more homes and businesses – including around 380,000 in the East of England - in some of the UK's hardest to serve communities'.

Orsett is on the list, but that is it as far as Thurrock is concerned.

A total of 39 exchanges across Essex are being upgraded over the next five years but the bulk of the work will be carried out in mid and north Essex.