MORE than 300,000 people across the Merseyside area are still trapped in the broadband slow lane, new figures for internet connections reveal.

In some parts of Cheshire, more than four in 10 people live in “low-speed” areas – amid warnings that would-be housebuyers will refuse to move there.

The unlikely blackspot is the Parliamentary constituency of Chester, where 44,023 residents, a staggering 47.6%, face frustration at their computer keyboards.

But large numbers of people are also in low-speed areas in Wirral, in the constituencies of Wallasey (23.3%), Wirral South (15.0%) and Wirral West (14.5%), the figures show.

In stark contrast, everybody in Liverpool Wavertree is in the broadband fast lane – one of just 17 Westminster seats that can make the boast.

Liverpool Riverside (1.3%), Birkenhead (2.0%), Liverpool Walton (2.3%), Bootle (3.4%) and Garston and Halewood (5.9%) are also very well served.

The figures were revealed just days before the Government announces a second wave of trial areas to receive help to expand superfast broadband connections.

But, in a Commons debate last week, culture minister Ed Vaizey admitted it would be “bad news” for most of the 17 areas that have bid to an £530m broadband investment fund. Only four or five are likely to go ahead.

Meanwhile, Labour – which released the figures – accused the Government of tearing up its plans to introduce minimum broadband speeds in every part of the country, by the end of next year.

Ian Lucas, the party’s industry spokesman, said the Coalition had pushed that timetable back to 2015, which meant it would miss a European Union target to act by 2013.