Brits obsessed by text

BRITAIN is more text obsessed than ever, new figures today show. A record 2.63bn messages were sent during May, an average of 85m every day of the month.

Experts estimate the average phone user sends about 36 texts a week - the equivalent of more than 100,000 in the average Briton's lifetime.

They say that this will lead to more than 30bn texts being sent this year alone.

The figures show that the peak time for messages is from 10.30 to 11pm. 'This obviously coincides with the pubs shutting and is mainly people trying to find their friends,' said Mike Short of the Mobile Data Association, which produced the statistics.

He believes the increase is linked to new message services for major sports events. 'Listeners to BBC Radio Five Live can vote for their cricketing moment of summer via SMS,' he said. 'Meanwhile, the latest developments during England's 2005 matches are available from Channel 4's text alert service.

'For those unable to make it down to London SW19 this year, Wimbledon also offer fans text information.' A service from internet company Yahoo! offers pollen forecasts that warn hay fever sufferers when they are most at risk.

Mobile phone messages have also helped save lives, with dozens of rescues being made after stranded mountaineers texted home to alert family and friends that they were in difficulty.

This month, more than 20 holidaymakers stranded at Dunraven Bay in the Vale of Glamorgan were rescued after one of them texted his mother. Coastguard officer Rob Jackson said the group were in a cove when they were cut off by the tide.

'A lad texted his mum, saying he was going to be late home because he was stranded on the beach.' he said. 'She called the coastguard and we launched a 999 deployment.'