An internet site for jobs, dating and flatshares has been overwhelmed with the number of people logging on to look for no-strings sex.

Dozens of people are posting their availability on Brighton Gumtree, an online forum which levels the playing field between men and women who don't want a relationship.

Originally aimed at Antipodeans in London, the site has seen its "casual encounters" page take off since it was launched in Brighton last month.

Five times as many people have posted messages in this section than on the "desperately seeking" relationships page.

The site's founder, Michael Pennington, said: "There are sex sites on the internet and they are largely taboo. Gumtree does something different in that it brings sex into the mainstream among jobs, flatshare and dating.

"It says 'This isn't taboo: if it is something you want to do then fine. If not, then don't'."

Brighton Gumtree - www.brighton.gumtree.com - has been launched to appeal to the same kind of people that use London Gumtree to look for jobs, accommodation, social events, friends, partners - as well as casual sex.

The London version, a finalist in next month's Daily Telegraph/Sage Web Site of the Year awards, has received more than 1.4 million postings and the number of users is doubling every six months. It receives more than 3,000 postings a day and has led to marriages and the reunion of long-lost relatives.

Earlier this year the site launched other Gumtrees in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Edinburgh and Dublin.

Mr Pennington said: "We felt Brighton was the next logical step for us to launch a Gumtree in, as it has a thriving employment, social and cultural mix. We're obviously hoping to emulate the same success in Brighton that we have in London."

Experts have warned "sex surfers" risk long-term emotional repercussions from drifting from one sexual encounter to another.

Nevertheless, the casual relationships section of the site remains more popular than many of the more conventional areas, such as "general stuff for sale" and the gigs section.

Mr Pennington said: "People log on to find a job or a flat and then find themselves logging on a couple of times a day to chat on the message boards and read the racier relationship postings."