A PIONEERING motorway Internet centre has opened for business in Oxfordshire, writes DAVID DUFFY.

The Wheatley service area at junction eight of the M40 offers travellers access to personal computer terminals with e-mail, Internet access and fax.

Motorists can also check the RAC travel hotline or keep up-to-date with sport through the BBC's on-line service.

The site, developed by Internet Exchange, has 12 terminals with Internet access.

Welcome Break commercial director Mark Hudson said: "This is a unique opportunity for business travellers to go on-line, word process or collect that all-important fax forgotten at the office.

"At the same time, leisure travellers can use the terminals to predict traffic hot-spots or just cyber-chat."

Internet Exchange chief executive Robert Procter said: "The motorway service area is very exciting and is giving us an outstanding opportunity to broaden our market and create a truly national network for public Internet access.

"Our motto is Internet made easy, which is achieved by providing relaxed and informal areas in which people can experience the Internet.

"The Welcome break area is perfect for our laidback style of operation." A second Internet Exchange site is planned at the Fleet service area on the M3 in Hampshire by the end of the month.

Another six are due to open by the end of the year.

* Demonstrations of on-line banking are being given by Barclays Bank in Summertown, Oxford, tomorrow and Monday from 10am to 4.30pm at the bank's branch at 211-213 Banbury Road. For details, call Richard Maskell on 01865 442315.

Story date: Thursday 13 May

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.