These Yorkshire towns have become the UK's top two home working hubs

Huddersfield saw the largest increase in network data usage (up 37 per cent) in Britain between January and August, as lockdown forced millions of workers across the country to work from home.

Yorkshire neighbour Halifax followed closely behind with an increase of 36 per cent. Other towns to feature in the top 10 include Dudley, Reading, Shrewsbury and Truro, all of which have seen internet usage rise by 34 per cent or more during the pandemic.

Leeds and Harrogate also saw a sharp rise in usage (both up 32 per cent). Leeds was the only city to appear in the top 20.

The data suggests that the shift towards home working could provide a boost for communities outside of the UK’s major urban centres, which have traditionally been abandoned by a large proportion of their workforce during weekdays.

Research undertaken by TalkTalk earlier this year revealed that two thirds of British people would consider not buying a property if it didn’t have a fast, reliable internet connection, highlighting the need for investment in broadband outside of the UK’s cities as the country transitions to a new model of decentralised working.

Tristia Harrison, chief executive at TalkTalk, said: “This data shows us just how much lockdown has changed work life patterns.

"With a fast, reliable broadband connection, homeworkers can be just as productive as they were in the office. The new hybrid home office working life is here to stay.

"With so many towns at the centre of the UK’s home working revolution, it’s never been more important that people have affordable, reliable connectivity and that we invest in our broadband infrastructure outside major urban areas."

Top 20 UK Home Working Hubs*

Huddersfield 37%

Halifax 36%

Dudley 35%

Reading 35%

Shrewsbury 34%

Truro 34%

Dorchester 34%

Stevenage 33%

Torquay 33%

Hemel 33%

Kingston 33%

Leeds 32%

Harrogate 32%

Bromley 32%

Milton Keynes 32%

Stockport 32%

Sutton 32%

Chelmsford 32%

Telford 32%

Crewe 32%

* Increase in data usage from January – August 2020