Times site starts charging tomorrow

News International will begin charging for access to The Times and Sunday Times websites from tomorrow, it was announced today.

Users will have to pay either £1 per day or £2 for a week's subscription.

The effect of the introduction of "paywall" will be keenly watched by other media groups. Executives have already acknowledged they expect to lose some "passing traffic".

Under an introductory offer, any customers who register will be given access to both for a £1 fee for the first 30 days.

Readers who hold seven-day subscriptions to the papers will be given access to the sites, although editions designed for the iPad will be charged separately.

The newspapers relaunched their websites on May 25 with registered customers given a month's free trial.

Rebekah Brooks, the chief executive of News International, said: "We have been very pleased with the response from readers since the launch of the new websites for The Times and The Sunday Times in May.

"We believe the new sites offer real value and we look forward to continuing to invest and innovate for readers."