More people than ever before are logging on to read the latest news first on the Dorset Echo website.

September saw dorsetecho.co.uk reach its highest ever unique browser figure with 336,701 – double what it was last year.

The site also had 2,266,486 page impressions.

Across the Dorset Echo and its sister papers, the Bridport and Lyme Regis News and the Bournemouth Echo, the sites had a combined 1,257,141 unique browsers and 9,903,723 page impressions.

The most read story of the month on Dorset Echo website was the live coverage of the search for an 11-year-old boy who went missing at Ringstead.

He went missing for six hours, sparking a huge search, but was found safe down an eight-foot ditch after a resident saw the Echo coverage.

The story was read 58,524 times and shared on social media as people joined in the search.

The Bridport News site also had its highest ever unique browser figures in September with 47,729 and 147,468 page impressions.

The good news about the websites come just days after dorsetecho.co.uk was nominated for the EDF Energy London and South of England Media Awards in the Website of the Year category.

Group editor Toby Granville said: “Our talented journalists work tirelessly around the clock to deliver the best quality local news, sport and information first on dorsetecho.co.uk

“And the fact that the number of readers online in September have doubled in a year clearly shows they’re getting what they want to read.

“It’s fantastic that not only have we had that recognition from the readers with our soaring figures, but also from the industry itself with our recent prestigious award nominations.”

To be part of the success story call the Dorset Echo’s advertising team on 01305 830873.