A new poll claimed today that up to half of UK adults are 'addicted' to email.

When asked if they could carry on without access to email, 50 per cent of 25-34 year-olds said 'no'.

The research found that this age group is leading the way in adopting electronic communication as a vital way of keeping in touch with the office and friends.

However, contrary to expectations, the latest technologies have not been monopolised by the younger generation.

Only 41 per cent of teenagers admitted to relying on email, whereas 35-44 year-olds are embracing new technologies for communication much more quickly, with 44 per cent saying that their email is vital to them.

The study, carried out by ICM Research for software-as-a-service firm Nasstar, also revealed some significant regional variations.

Respondents in the South East place most importance on access to email. Some 43 per cent said that they would struggle without it, while only 34 per cent in Wales and the South West admitted to the same reliance.

The variation between males and females was, surprisingly, very little. Around 41 per cent of all females admitted they would find it hard without email, compared to 38 per cent of males.

Charles Black, chief executive of Nasstar, said: "The first wave was the mobile phone, and many of us would admit that we rely on our mobile and cannot remember how we ever survived without it.

"This poll shows that the next phase is the growth of mobile email. There is an increasing demand for email on-the-go, and technology has developed to meet this demand.

"Now with your mobile, or your BlackBerry, you can have access to your email anywhere and everywhere."