Lincolnshire County Council's £20m bid for broadband

Up to £20m could be spent on improving broadband internet connections in Lincolnshire, if the county council is successful in its bid for funding.

County councillor Richard Davies said improvements to internet connectivity were needed to attract new businesses.

Lincolnshire County Council is bidding for the money from government fund Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK).

A BDUK spokesman said an unsuccessful bid would not mean an area missing out entirely on funding.

"BDUK will work with unsuccessful applicants until their plans are ready for funding," he said.

The government wants to ensure everyone in the UK has access to speeds of two megabits per second by 2012.

The result of the bid will be announced on 27 May.