A broadband postcode lottery means some Suffolk households are paying more than twice as much as neighbours living on the other side of the road.

A study of 1.7million British postcodes found that internet users are being penalised as they don’t have the choice of cheaper deals simply because of their address.

The discrepancies mean that more than £60-a-year could be added to bills.

In Barton’s Place, Newmarket, one property has access to a choice of 20 tariffs with a cheapest price of £8.15 a month, while just 221ft away a home has access to 68 bundles and a far cheaper service of £2.99 per month.

In Bury St Edmunds there is an identical price difference between properties in Cook’s Drove and addresses in Felixtstowe also show a £5 monthly discrepancy.

The study by broadbandchoices.co.uk also revealed that those with cheaper tariffs also had access to far greater download speeds.

Dominic Baliszewski, telecoms expert from broadbandchoices.co.uk said: “Broadband has become an essential utility for people in the UK and it’s madness that in 2013 people are being penalised simply due to where they live.

“The Government has a responsibility along with providers to ensure a consistent standard of broadband service for every household in the UK.

“However with the recent announcement that the government will now roll out superfast services to 95% of homes by 2017, it seems the goalposts are being repeatedly pushed back.

“Most customers will not even be aware that they are at a digital disadvantage. These discrepancies in speed and price occur when different broadband providers install their technology in different exchanges located around the country.”