A company based in the East Yorkshire village of Langtoft has been helping people to cope after a major European satellite internet provider shut down.

In last week's Gazette & Herald, we reported how many Ryedale residents and businesses were without internet access after the closure of the Netherlands-based company Aramiska.

The business provided high-speed internet access and broadband services via two-way satellite technology.

Among those affected is Sally Robinson, who runs the highly-successful online lingerie business Ample Bosom from her family farm in Old Byland.

Langtoft.Net came into existence to provide a broadband solution for Langtoft, near Driffield.

Because no telephone line ADSL service was available in the village, the company chose to use satellite to provide the connection required, distributing the signal using wireless technology.

Langtoft went on to install and manage networks for a number of East Yorkshire communities, and is currently involved in providing networks for several North York Moors communities.

"We're quite good at getting connections into places where they just shouldn't go," said owner Michael Whitley.

"When Aramiska crashed, we realised what a huge impact this would have on quite a number of villages - not to mention businesses," he added. "I dropped Sally Robinson an email to say let me know if you're stuck and she rang back within two minutes," he said.

Although Langtoft.Net can't promise success, it is exploring what connections are available, and has already had some success in Bilsdale.

With three full-time and one part- time member of staff, Langtoft.Net runs a helpline from 8am to 5.30pm five days a week on (01377) 267500. For more information visit www.langtoft.net/broadband or e-mail RICHARD@LANGTOFT.NET.

Updated: 15:26 Wednesday, February 08, 2006