Monmouthshire Livestock Market, near Raglan, is taking part in a new initiative to bring free wi-fi and hands-on digital support to the rural community of the county.

Free internet access at the market, combined with expert support, will open up many opportunities.

The initiative is from Barclays, which has agreed to fund the set-up of free wi-fi connectivity while Barclays Digital Eagles, specially trained members of the bank's staff, will provide free technology advice to help local people build confidence and develop the skills they need to succeed in the digital world.

In the UK some 11 per cent of the adult population have never been online and this increases to 60 per cent for those over 65 years old.

With so many opportunities from education, interacting with friends, job opportunities and access to government and health services all available online, it has never been more important for members of our community to start their digital journey.

Phil Anstey, Monmouthshire Livestock Market manager, said: "We are delighted to be part of this initiative which will provide every visitor with the tools and resources to get ahead in today’s digital world in a collaborative and supported environment.

Martin Boucher, Barclays agricultural manager for Monmouthshire, said: "Across the country, people are experiencing the digital revolution, but like all revolutions, it’s not one that happens to all people at once. Some will adopt digital skills quickly, others will take more time. This is especially relevant to the rural community where signal strength, confidence and access to training may all be barriers to exploiting both the commercial and social benefits digital accessibility can bring.

“At Barclays we firmly believe that we have a responsibility to ensure that no one is left behind on the digital journey and through this initiative, we can ensure that even more people have access to the services and support they need to embrace the digital revolution.”

Monmouth MP David Davies said: "I am delighted that Barclays are supporting the local community in this way and am certain that there will be a huge take up of this service."