The UK has become a nation of computer buffs, according to the British Computer Society (BCS). Its survey of 2,180 adults found that three quarters of grown-ups can use a PC to acess the net, while two-thirds have gone online to shop.

However, half of those quizzed were hacked off with the complexity of IT, while seven in ten said they were concerned at easy access to "immoral internet content".

Despite this, BCS chief exec David Clarke reckons computer literacy in the UK in on the up although he remains concerned that there is still a danger that some adults could be left behind.

"It is clear that not everyone is experiencing the benefits of computing...we see it as essential that all of society is able to use a computer with the same confidence as the telephone," he said.

Elsewhere, broadband usage has surged ahead in the UK as usage has reached 41 per cent compared to 27 per cent six months ago.

There are now 26.8m net users (six in ten of the population) in the UK - with four in ten hooking up to broadband, according to NOP. ®

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