A groupof internet enthusiasts from Brighton have made it possible to go surfing on the beach - without getting wet.

Now anyone can surf the World Wide Web, or browse through their email account, while soaking up the sun on Brighton seafront.

The service, called PiertoPier, is being offered free to anyone who has the right gear.

It uses new wireless technology, called wi-fi, to get people online at broadband speeds without the need to plug in any cables.

A stretch along the seafront from Geminis bar in the west to The Beach club in the east is being tested and no hitches have been reported so far.

There are almost 1,000 so-called 'public hot spots' throughout Europe, usually in cafes, airports and hotel lobbies.

Starbucks coffee house in Brighton is already offering its customers wi-fi access at a rate of £5.50 an hour. PiertoPier, however, is free.

Brighton firms Moving Edge, Dataline Software, Riptide Fitness Centre and MicroExpert have paid for the computer hardware and donated the internet bandwidth.

The cost of setting up PiertoPier has been less than £1,000.

The consortium has been talking about setting up the service for a long time but only got to work five months ago.

Alec Waters, from Dataline Software in North Street, said: "Every year when the sun came out we had the same conversation about how nice it would be to get out of the office and work on the beach with a pint of beer.

"This year it just so happened everyone involved in the conversation worked in computer software or for internet service providers and had the expertise to make the dream a reality."

Mr Waters believes it could revolutionise the way people work.

He said: "To start with it will benefit all those people who work from home, like freelance journalists or students working on a thesis, who will be able to take their laptops to the beach.

"There is a slight business element because businesses will be paying to have their name on the web site but the main beneficiaries will be the community.

"It is a free service and we cannot foresee a time when we will be asking customers to pay. That's really not the philosophy behind the project.."

Alex Studd, of internet provider Moving Edge, said: "We like to be as cost-effective as we can. In a place like Brighton where there is high connectivity, we can write off the costs."

While working outdoors has its attractions, it might be best to wait for cloud cover before packing your laptop and heading for the beach.

Ian Fogg, wi-fi analyst at Jupiter Research, said: "If you like the net and the beach, this is a great combination.

"The real problem, apart from the salt, sand, and water, is the screens on many laptops don't work well in sunlight."