Ministers need to do more to close the "digital divide" between urban and rural areas, MPs have warned.

The Commons rural affairs select committee called on the government to set a target date by which broadband internet services should be available nationwide.

Funds should also be allocated to "rapidly" identify the areas which require the most help to get online.

The committee argued it was "counter-productive" for ministers to urge farmers and other workers in rural areas to access government services electronically, when broadband blackspots still exist.

It was "unfortunate" that progress had been "significantly slower" in rural areas.

"As such, it has allowed a 'digital divide' to open up between urban and rural areas in terms of the availability of broadband," said the report.

"We believe the government urgently needs to close the divide. We recommend that the government now commits itself to ensuring that broadband is made available to all areas of the United Kingdom according to a defined timetable."

Other recommendations including provision of more services by government and public sector bodies online, support for local companies campaigning for more broadband services in the countryside and development of systems which allow private sector customers utilise public sector infrastructures.