A Lincolnshire-based internet provider called 'Lightspeed Broadband' has found a new home for its HQ in Spalding.

The building chosen is Grade II-listed Fulney Hall, and the move comes as the company rolls out its full fibre broadband across the East of England.

The new HQ will have 30 employees working there, and it is hoped that more local jobs will be created.

The 2000 square-foot hall has been empty for several years, and the company plans to do restoration work on the building and create a space in which locals can try out gigabit internet speeds for themselves.

The company plans to connect 100,000 homes and businesses by 2022, and as many as 1 million by 2025.

Locations including Boston, Bourne, Holbeach, King's Lynn and South Wootton, Long Sutton, Market Deeping, Skegness, Sleaford, Spalding and Stamford can expect to be able to benefit from ultrafast upload and download speeds of up to 1000 Mbps, which will enable professional home working, streaming, gaming, home schooling and video calling, all without buffering.

Dave Axam, Chief Operating Officer at Lightspeed Broadband, said: "We are very excited that we will be basing all our operations in Spalding, at Fulney Hall. It's the ideal base for our growing team and it's clearly an important part of South Holland's heritage. We're looking forward to sensitively restoring the wonderful old building in keeping with its history and getting involved with the local community.

"Spalding is positioned at the very heart of our area and work has started on building our full fibre network in the town. We are moving at 'light speed' to bring a gigabit full fibre connection directly to local residents and businesses across South Lincolnshire and West Norfolk."

Councillor Gary Porter, Leader of South Holland District Council, commented: "We're delighted that Lightspeed have chosen to base their operations in the heart of the District, helping to create local jobs and bringing a historic and valued building back into use.

"Their exciting plans to bring superfast broadband to South Holland will provide a real boost to our residents and businesses across our towns and villages, using existing infrastructure where possible to ensure less impact on our street scene. We look forward to seeing their business develop further in the coming months."

It is expected that the first homes and businesses will be able to connect later this year. For more information, click here to visit their website.