The county council's "Locals Online" scheme aims to increase community access to the web with computers in 15 pubs.

Each pub has between two and six computers paid for using a £300,000 European Union grant.

Carole Wreford, landlady of the Mason's Arms, in Eastby, near Skipton, said the four computers installed in her pub had transformed the atmosphere.

"It is a real social thing," she said. "It has really brought the community together.

"Even poeple who didn't come to the pub before have started coming in regularly to use the computers."

Drinkers can also brush up on their IT skills with regular training sessions on subjects including digital photography.