A campaign to get every person in the UK surfing the internet has swept into Fife with the support of Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath MP Gordon Brown.
Race Online 2012 aims to make the UK one of the first countries in the world where everyone can access the internet by the time the London Olympics rolls around next year.
To mark the Fife leg of the drive this week, champion surfer and UK digital champion Martha Lane Fox visited the Templehall area of Kirkcaldy to raise awareness of the work being done to get people online.
As well as asking Fife Council and other partner agencies to pledge their support to the campaign, Martha who was accompanied by Mr Brown also got the chance to find out what is already happening in communities across Fife.
Work in learning centres and libraries has already had a huge impact and a team of Fife’s own digital champions are helping others in their own communities.
Mr Brown said, “I am delighted that Martha Lane Fox has come to Fife as she is recognised as the leading figure in driving the digital agenda in the UK and further afield.
“I wanted her to see the excellent work that is going on in Fife and I hope that she will be able to offer her expertise and work with us to ensure that Fife develops the full potential and wide range of opportunities that digital technology has to offer.”
There are still 10 million adults in the UK who have never used the internet more than a fifth of the population.
Fife councillor Brian Goodall said, “We were delighted that Martha could come along to hear about the work that’s well under way in the Kingdom to make sure anyone who feels excluded by digital technology doesn’t miss out on the range of benefits available by going online.”