Guardian extends online lead

The Guardian’s website network, Guardian Unlimited, has recorded the highest-ever figure for unique users in the latest Audit Bureau of Circulations Electronics figures.

It extended its lead over the other national newspaper sites in terms of unique users, reaching 16.7 million in September – an increase of almost 1 million on the previous month.

Meanwhile, TimesOnline.co.uk, the website for The Times and Sunday Times, recorded an increase of more than 2 million on the previous month. It had 12.5 million unique users in September and is now the second most visited newspaper website in the UK.

The Daily Mail & General Trust websites, which made their online debut in July, registered only a modest increase from 11.5 million to 11.6 million unique users from the previous month. The network of Sun sites, which includes thesun.co.uk and Page3.com, remained steady on the 10.6 million mark.

The audited figures reveal that the number of users for all newspaper sites is increasing.