Spending on advertising in the UK was up more than 5% last year, driven by the rapid growth in internet revenues, according to figures from a leading media research company.

Although the appeal of the web is changing advertisers' spending habits, TV and press advertising still held up, said Thomson Intermedia.

Overall, ad spend in the UK rose 5.4% last year compared with 2004, according to the Thomson report, which was compiled in conjunction with accountancy firm KPMG.

TV advertising was up 4% at £4.2bn, while national press advertising was steady at an estimated £1.8bn. Outdoor advertising was up 2% at £754m, but cinema was down 4% at £139m.

Thomson gave no specific figures for the internet, as it is difficult to measure the major area of online growth - search advertising.

However, display ad revenues on the internet seem to have fallen at the end of 2005, Thomson added.

"In the longer term, we are very conscious that as this medium continues its explosive growth, there is a lack of marketing spend transparency," said Sarah Jane Thomson, the company's chief executive.

Figures released by the Internet Advertising Bureau in October showed UK display advertising increased by 68% in the first half of 2005 to £162.1m, while paid-for search experienced 72% growth, to £197.3m.

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