Two book lovers are set to launch the first independent British web site

dedicated to providing information for and about book groups.

Clare Chandler and Irene Haynes, from Brighton, have drawn on ten years of experience of their own book group to launch www.bookgroup.info The site contains reviews and recommendations with a link to Amazon online bookshop so readers can buy books direct.

An archive section rates all the books a group has read and includes an advice page on how to start and run new groups.

Web site co-director Clare, a government publicity officer, said: "We felt there was a need for a good source of independent reviews to help reading groups choose their books."

The public is invited to attend the launch of the site at The Curve, Gardner Street, Brighton, on Friday, from 6pm to 8pm.