The online advertising market is set to grow seven times faster than the offline sector, according to a study by an industry specialist.

In the latest figures by ZenithOptimedia, internet advertising is set to grow by 28.2 per cent during 2007, compared to growth in traditional media of 3.9 per cent, reports Brand Republic.

According to the International Herald Tribune, Britain's online advertising market is growing at a rate of 40 per cent. The country currently accounts for 13.5 per cent of all money spent in the sector - more than any other in the world.

Chief executive of MindShare Rob Noss told the publication: "I'd like to think there's a cultural factor in the UK, where we've been a bit more experimental on some of these [internet advertising] things."

ZenithOptimedia also claims the internet will account for 8.6 per cent of the global advertising sector by 2009 and will become larger than the radio market.

Owned by the world's largest media services group Publicis, ZenithOptimedia claims to offer a "top level" marketing service to clients across the world.