"Surrogate surfers" have been blamed for holding people back from going online.

Sports presenter Gabby Logan today launches a campaign to encourage people who have never used the internet to join the digital revolution.

A BT/ICM poll has found that nearly one in five people across Kent and the south east have never gone online.

But it also reveals that 42 per cent of internet-savvy adults in the region have searched for or bought products or services online for someone else. BT says that this may have unintentionally held them back.

BT's Get IT Together campaign aims to turn the surrogates into "surfer supporters" who coach friends and family.

Gabby said: "I can't imagine life without the internet. If you know someone who isn't confident online, rather than doing their jobs for them, why not show them how to get online for themselves?"

The poll found that the main barrier to people going online was a feeling that there was nobody to teach them. More than half (52 per cent) lacked confidence in their ability to learn, while 49 per cent feared technology.

BT claims that internet users save money, have an enriched life, stay in touch with friends and family, find it easier to get work, and keep up with current affairs.

Tomorrow, Age UK unveils its Internet Champion of the Year competition to find older people who can act as ambassadors for other older people to get online.

Gavin Patterson, chief executive of BT Retail, said: "We think most people would be surprised how easy it can be with a little help from our friends - and our "Get IT Together" campaign is a rallying call to anyone who is online to help those who aren't make those first steps into a new and exciting world."