THE Kent Messenger Group's award-winning website has been re-launched with an impressive new look and a wealth of expanded information.

Use of the latest technological developments has transformed the site into a slick, highly interactive but simple to use service.

The foundation of its new feel is a uniquely comprehensive community network, presenting and linking more than 550 Kent towns and villages.

Gavin de Carle, associate director of the KM Group's New Media department, said: "Each town or village is illustrated with at least one picture and a descriptive article.

"Each has a location map, a directory of businesses - taxi firms, banks, building societies, right down to the local florist - and information relating to clubs, associations and amenities.

"Every town and village is inter-linked with communities within a five mile radius. Community news from KM Group newspapers appears in the relevant area shortly after publication."

Sports fans will be keen to keep a close eye on Kent Online. The website's excellent coverage of Gillingham FC will be reflected on the new-look site which will continue to use news of home and away matches sent directly to the site from the games themselves.

County cricket coverage, direct from the ground and with full running scorecard will resume when next season gets under way.

The new look website takes off to a prize start. Mr de Carle said: "We will have two wonderful competitions - one is the chance to win a weekend at Disneyland Paris for a family of four and another for the chance to win a laptop computer. More competitions will follow in the autumn."

He stressed: "As a company we are proud and excited to be developing and publishing a major Internet site for the people of Kent and for everyone across the UK and around the world who has an interest in the county."

Kent Online's weather forecast has been improved. It includes a three-day forecast for north, south, east and west of the county, taking into account climatic differences peculiar to these areas.

Information about leisure activities throughout Kent is headed by an easy-to-use selection from the present, and future, listings data from the group's What's On magazine.

The film section in particular makes cinema-going easy and fun. It has listings for Kent's many cinemas, reviews and even gives the opportunity to visit the film's own website and the chance to buy related items, such as the movie's soundtrack and/or the DVD and video.

For music fans, there are in-depth looks at local bands - more than 65 groups featured on the site at the moment. Bands are invited to submit information about themselves.

Kent Online's popular horoscopes feature is re-presented in a more user-friendly form.

"For the first time we have included the popular Kent Connections dating service, which appears in our newspapers. We've moved it on line and called it WebFriends," said Mr de Carle.

This allows visitors to search for friends or potential partners up to a radius of 90 miles from where they live.

There are also integrated sections devoted to Jobs, Motors, Property and Freeads.

The employent advertisements are a must-see for those seeking work in the county or thinking of a change of career. And for those looking to move home or buy a car, the Kent Online can help again. Mr de Carle said: "There are about 8,000 vehicles for sale through the site and more than 4,000 homes to buy or let."

The site also boasts nearly 7,000 private articles for sale which can be advertised free on Kent Online, where it's easy to buy goods and place an ad.

Travel information is extensive and will allow users to plan their journeys around the county easily and quickly.