Mozilla has announced that over 20 million internet users have downloaded the Firefox web browser since the release of version 1.5 on 29 November last year.

The company claims to have seen strong demand for the browser, with " hundreds of thousands" of people downloading the new version of Firefox every day since its release.

Interest is thought to have been boosted by the 35 local language versions also available as free downloads.

Research from French internet monitoring firm XiTi Monitor revealed that one in five Europeans is currently using Firefox, and 11 per cent of UK users prefer the Mozilla offering over Internet Explorer or any other rival.

Europe leads the world in the use of Firefox, at an average user rate of 20.11 per cent. Australasia is in second place at 18.6 per cent, followed by North America at 15.88 per cent.

The survey also found that Firefox users have been quick to upgrade following the recent release of version 1.5. Over 40 per cent now use the latest version.