The Hampshire Chronicle is to begin a second trial of the purely electronic version of the paper.

A year ago the Chronicle ran a successful eight-week trial publishing the paper in Microsoft Reader format. It was emailed to "guinea pigs" around the world who generally found it a useful and fun service.

Now editor Alan Cleaver is to start a second trial with various improvements. Mr Cleaver said: "There are many advantages to an electronic version. Readers living abroad would normally have to wait several days to receive the Chronicle - with the eChronicle it can be emailed in seconds.

"It can also be read on Pocket PCs and laptops, making the broadsheet paper easier to read and handle.

"With text-to-speech software included with the free Microsoft Reader software, it also means the paper can be read out loud by your computer - a boon to both partially-sighted and sighted people. The computer reads out the text and it also describes any pictures."

The Chronicle decided on the Microsoft Reader format because of its easy-to-read font and because it is already used by many people for ebooks.

There are currently no adverts on the trial eChronicle, it is only the editorial. 'Subscribers' (the trial is free) can choose whether to receive news, sport or Section 3. The file size for each section is no bigger than 350kb. The eChronicle will be e-mailed to readers by Friday evening (GMT). The only "cost" to subscribers will be a request during the trial for their views and comments about the eChronicle.

If you wish to join the eChronicle trial, first download Microsoft Reader from www.microsoft.com/reader/. Once installed on your computer e-mail echronicle@hampshirechronicle.co.uk with "eChronicle" in the subject field to subscribe to the service - it is free for the duration of the trial. You will then be given full instructions.