Computer technology, ultimately the cause of the impending year 2000 problem, is now proving to be one of the main solutions with more than half a million hits a week to the official Millennium Bug web-site.

The bug is caused by an inability of many business systems and other electronic devices to recognise the date change from 1999 to 2000. This is because memory space was at a premium when computers were first invented and timing devices were set to only acknowledge the last two digits of any year.

Action 2000's web-site, which is situated at www.bug2000.co.uk, gives information on how to combat the Millennium Bug, where to get assistance in your area, which companies have signed Pledge 2000, the latest news and online internet conferences.

Pledge 2000 is a six-point manifesto committing companies to share information, help other firms in their supply chains and avoid legal action wherever possible. It can be downloaded from the site making it easier for companies to join up.

Action 2000 is a company set up by the Government, charged with helping and advising private sector business on converting their awareness of the Millennium Bug into action.

Its web-site manager, Mark Mitchinson, said: "The web-site is one of the most comprehensive and informative Millennium Bug sites on the web today.

"The site acts as a signpost to answer all the questions people both in this country and indeed globally are asking about the problem.

"The bug needs to be faced head on and we feel confident that the campaign on the web goes a long way to doing this."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.