Telecoms firm Virgin Media is hoping to entice existing broadband customers to its mobile phone packages with a cheaper set of tariffs.

As part of its new deal, the group is offering low-priced 18-month contracts for text and media messaging on its mobile handsets.

Available today (May 28th) from £18 per month, subscribers will benefit from unlimited text and data messaging, while users who already have a broadband account will be given free calls to other Virgin Media customers.

Managing Director of Virgin Media's mobile branch, Graeme Oxby, said: "We're offering consumers outstanding value and much greater choice, with hundreds of minutes, countless texts and endless web browsing included in their monthly package."

He added that the company's deals offered "a compelling alternative" to other longer term contracts.

Figures published by Virgin Media this month showed that its most popular high-speed internet package was its 10Mb broadband connection.