Seven million UK adults have never used the internet

More than seven million adults in the UK have never used the internet, official figures suggest.

The data revealed around one million more people have ventured on to the web since this time last year. But the latest statistics show 14% of those over the age of 16 have never accessed material online.

Significantly more women than men have never used the internet (4.2 million compared with 2.8 million), the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

It found 326,000 adults used the internet for the first time between January and March this year.

The ONS said: “Internet use is linked to various socio-economic and demographic characteristics, such as age, sex, disability, geographical location and weekly earnings.

“For example, those who are less likely to have used the internet include elderly and disabled adults.”