In the UK, Online advertising grew 38% in 2007 to be worth £2.8bn ($5.5bn), taking its market share to 15.3%, up from 11.4% in 2006, the report showed.

"It's clear marketing directors now recognise the value of online to drive their business and more and more are using rich media and video to build their brands, just as they do on TV,"

The growing influence of social networking websites, the introduction of cheap laptops and catch-up TV, like that offered by the BBC iPlayer, were also key drivers of the internet advertising boom in Britain, the report suggested

The report, compiled in partnership with accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and the World Advertising Research Centre (WARC), showed the internet was the biggest driver of overall advertising growth in 2007.