Over nine million adults in Britain have never used the internet, new research has revealed.

A study by the Office of National Statistics found the elderly, widowed and people on lower incomes were less likely to connect to the internet.

The new ONS report claims a generation gap in technology still exists in Britain with only one per cent of 16 to 24-year-olds having never used the internet, compared to 60 per cent of over-65s.

Today more than 38 million adults in the UK are online – with 30 million accessing the internet every day.

Mark Williams from the ONS, said: ‘Since 2006 we have seen a significant increase in the number of people using the Internet, with the number of adults accessing the Internet ever day almost doubling to just over 30 million, though the UK is some way off from being completely online.

‘Usage is closely linked with a number of socio-economic and demographic indicators with those less educated and on lower incomes less likely to access the web.’

BDST: 1655 HRS, 31 August 2010