RESEARCH has revealed that people in the North West subscribe to games sites more than any other.

This is one of the findings in a survey commissioned by Yell.com to launch its annual awards, look at internet usage in the UK and offer a sneak preview of which are the most visited web sites.

Nominations for the Yell.com awards opened recently, inviting UK internet users to vote for the best on the net at www.yell.com/awards.

Now in their sixth year, they are the only internet awards that allow every internet user in the UK the chance to nominate their favourite website.

Nationally, web sites specifically geared to education were the most frequently visited, suggesting that today's biggest web advocates are parents, students and professionals who are using the internet as a virtual classroom to get ahead at school and at work.

Although games are the most popular sites for people in the North West, results from the survey showed that nearly one third of people in the region believed that the biggest impact of the internet had been on furthering their education.

John Condron, of Yell, said: "These awards recognise the real winners on the net as they reflect the opinion of the UK users and as such are the real people's choice. We want this years awards to rewards those sites that have captured the imagination of the UK public and the true spirit of the internet in 2001.

The award ceremony will take place in London on October 4.