ALMOST 60% of adults have regular access to the internet, according to a report published today.

The figure has increased from around 50% in April thanks to the number of people signing-up to broadband internet services, market analysts Mintel said.

The company predict that 67% of UK adults will be online within two years - up from 57% now.

However, it believes saturation point will come when 75% of adults can access the net at home, work or other venue such as an internet cafe.

Neil Mason, retail analyst at Mintel, said: "It would appear that much of this sudden growth in internet penetration levels is being driven by a rapid expansion in the numbers of broadband internet users in response to a stepping up of the marketing efforts by the various broadband service providers."

The report is based on a survey of 4,000 adults in Britain carried out by Mintel and Mori.