TWO computer enthusiasts aim to take on a national communication company in a bid to bring 21st century technology to their market town.

Fed up with seeing advertising for a service they cannot have, Tarek Ghouri and Kevin Dunn have launched a campaign to persuade BT to upgrade the telephone exchange in Thirsk, so it can handle Broadband, a quicker and more flexible Internet system.

To achieve their goal, the campaigners will need the support of at least 400 residents and businesses in Thirsk before BT considers the improvement.

They believe the community can come together and prove to BT that it is worthy of the latest technology.

Mr Dunn said: "Residents may have seen the adverts for BT Broadband with large animated characters coming out a large pipe in the ground.

"The problem is no one in Thirsk can buy that service because our exchange has not been upgraded by BT."

Mr Ghouri said: "The majority of urban areas have been upgraded because that is where BT can reap most business from initially, but rural communities such as Thirsk are not even being considered without a certain level of interest being achieved."

BT says that at least 400 people in a town such as Thirsk have to register their interest before the local exchange can be upgraded.

Broadband is so sought after because it revolutionises the way businesses and home users access the Internet.

However, to date little more than 100 residents have registered their interest in Thirsk.

Mr Ghouri said: "Working in IT, I am restricted as to what I can access from home on the Internet, and it really riles me to think people in rural areas are missing out. Someone has to do something about it."

They hope to gain the support of Anne McIntosh, MP for the Vale of York.

Her spokesman said she had written to the Minister for E-commerce and Competitiveness, and BT, on behalf of constituents in support of Broadband access for rural businesses.

For more information, and to register with Broadband, visit www.thirskbroadband.co.uk