UK consumers now spend an average of 50 hours a week on the phone, surfing the internet, watching television or listening to the radio, according to a study by the UK communications watchdog.

Ofcom's Communications Market Report 2007 found that the over-65s spent the greatest amount of time online in 2006, racking up 42 hours of internet access every month.

While only 16 per cent of over-65s use the web, one quarter of all UK internet users are over 50 and that group accounts for 30 per cent of the total time spent online.

The research also found that, in the 25 to 34 age group, women spend more time online than men.

The 2.18 million women in this age group account for 55 per cent of total time spent online, with just 1.83 million of 25 to 34 year-old men in the UK using the internet.

Despite 75 per cent of 11 year-olds now having their own television and games console, the rise in internet use, mobile phones and MP3 players has caused a drop in their usage.

Console and computer game use was down from the 61 per cent who regularly played in 2005 to 53 per cent in the 2007 report.

Watching videos and DVDs had also dropped by 21 per cent from its previous figure of 59 per cent, while listening to the radio had halved from its 40 per cent back in 2005.

The report also found that for the first time in the UK there are more people who have a mobile phone and no landline than a landline and no mobile.

"This comprehensive survey shows how our communications sector continues to develop at a fast pace, with consumers of all ages using a range of devices to find the services they want," said Peter Phillips, partner for strategy and market developments at Ofcom.

Ofcom valued the UK electronic communications sector at £50bn.