Broadband is the most modern of communication means, while carrier pigeons date back to Roman times.

But on 16 September the two will be pitted against each other - and the pigeon is expected to win.

Ten pigeons will be released from a Yorkshire farm at the same time a five-minute video upload is begun.

Campaigners say the stunt is being carried out to illustrate that broadband in some parts of the UK is still "not fit for purpose". The government has committed to delivering a minimum of 2Mbps to every home by 2015.

It is not the first time that such a race has taken place. Last year a similar experiment in Durban, South Africa saw Winston the pigeon take two hours to finish a 96km journey. In the same time just 4% of a 4GB file had downloaded.

BDST: 0350 HRS, 17 September 2010