The Hampshire Chronicle is now publishing an electronic version of the paper.

The eChronicle is produced in Microsoft's Reader format and can be sent to you by email (each section is under 500kb) or downloaded from the web. It is free at the moment but there are plans to charge a small fee for this service in the future.

You will need to check you have Microsoft Reader installed on your computer to read the eChronicle. Reader is available from www.microsoft.com/reader/ free of charge. Instructions on how to receive the service are below.

Chronicle editor, Alan 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 normally 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 Chronicle decided on the Microsoft Reader format because of its ClearType technology and because it is already used by many people for ebooks. WH Smith and Penguin are already using this format.

There are currently no adverts on the trial eChronicle, it is only the editorial. You can choose whether to receive news, sport or Section 3. The file size for each section is no bigger than 500kb. The eChronicle will be e-mailed to readers by Friday evening (GMT).

If you wish to receive the eChronicle, first download Microsoft Reader from www.microsoft.com/reader/. Once installed on your computer you can download the current issue from www.cleaverproperty.co.uk/echronicle/. Alternatively email echronicle@hampshirechronicle.co.uk with "eChronicle" in the subject field.