Thousands of volunteers have been called on to help bring broadband to the nine million UK adults who have never used the internet.

Martha Lane Fox, the UK's digital champion, announced a national network of 100,000 unpaid helpers will be enlisted to inspire, support and encourage their peers who have no experience of using the web.

The strategy comes as part of a challenge by Race Online 2012 (RO2012) to the 30 million regular internet users across the country to pass on their skills to those in need.

RO2012 was established by the government in order to fulfil the ambition of making the UK the first nation in the world in which every single adult has access to the internet.

As part of this goal, the organisation is looking to get millions more people online in time for the 2012 London Olympics, which kick off on July 27th.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show almost three-quarters of households have some form of web connection, but 18 per cent of over-16s have still never taken advantage of the benefits offered by the internet.

Six in ten people aged 65 and over have never gone online, compared to one in five of those aged between 55 and 64 and just one per cent of 16 to 24-year-olds.

Commenting on the new volunteer initiative, David Cameron noted almost half of the nine million offline adults are among the country's most disadvantaged people - a figure that he claimed highlights the importance of RO2012's work.

The prime minister said: "I am delighted to welcome the announcement of 100,000 new local digital champion volunteers ... and a make a massive plea to those of you who aren't yet involved, to sign up now.

"We really can become the first nation in the world to get everyone online and ensure that something the vast majority of us take for granted can be enjoyed by all of us." 

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