Mail Online, the web-based version of The Daily Mail, hit a new milestone by attracting 77.3 million unique readers during May this year.

Figures released by the Audit Bureau of Circulation, Mail Online enjoyed an increase of 21.17 per cent in monthly readership, while its daily readership jumped 21.04 per cent with an average of 4,365,716 unique readers.

The average reader viewed 62 pages during the month, with 15 per cent of the new readers in the UK viewing the website through their iPhone app.

Speaking on the figures, Mail Online's publisher Martin Clarke said, "This shows just what an essential part of people's lives Mail Online has become, and underscores the Mail's' commitment to reach its readers when and where it suits them - be it online, on mobile or in print."

Other UK newspaper websites, such as Guardian. co. uk, Independent. co. uk, and Telegraph. co. uk, also registered a huge traffic boosts in May.

Guardian. co. uk topped fifty million monthly unique readers for the first time in May, while Independent. co. uk, Telegraph. co. uk and Mirror Group Digital all enjoyed double digital growth in May from the previous month.