Over a million Brits are still clinging onto their dial-up connections, despite the wide-availability of broadband services.

According to research from BroadbandChoices.co.uk, some 1.48 million British households are still surfing the internet on slower and more expensive dial-up deals.

Figures show that the cheapest dial-up package - AOL's Anytime - costs £175.89 in the first year, contrasting sharply with TalkTalk's £89.87 for broadband.

Attempting to explain the puzzling data, Broadband Choices product director, Michael Phillips, commented: "With some dial up packages you are effectively on a pay as you go rate which some people find more straightforward and there is also no minimum contract term.

"However the most common reason for sticking with an inferior service is simply customer inertia."

Mr Phillips implored UK dial-up customers to go ahead and switch to broadband, reducing the extra £127 million per year thought to be spent by those still on dial-up contracts.