THE Daily Echo is launching a new website designed to bring together Hampshire's community and sporting groups into one easy-to-navigate site.

Called CommuniGate, it will be a focal point from which to find and to be found.

It allows any non-profit, apolitical group to have its own website, which can list anything from club news, information and results to contact numbers and logos - even photographs and artwork.

Features that can be added to the sites include a hit counter, guest book, readers' poll, message board and e-mail forwarding.

The website has been designed with the amateur in mind so it is simply a matter of filling in some on-screen information to set up a comprehensive website.

There is no need for any special software, all that is needed is access to the Internet.

Thirteen Hampshire groups have already been trialling the website.

Bob Aldred, from Portsmouth Model Engineering Society, said: "It's very good, it gives everyone the chance to see what's going on in Hampshire, to see what others are doing."

Keith Cromar, centre director at Lymington Community Centre, said, despite having no programming experience, it was simple.

"I thought it was easy to use, the explanations were very good, when I pushed the help button all the information was there - I looked at everyone else's stuff first - in a word I was impressed," Mr Cromar added. The site will be launched today.

To be a part of CommuniGate log on to the website at www.communigate.co.uk/hants.