BBC News 24 is, from today, streamed live on the BBC News website permanently.

Viewers are now able to watch the latest breaking news streamed online to their computers by simply clicking on the "Watch Live" links found on the BBC News website front page, as well as in the body of relevant website stories.

Head of BBC News Interactive, Pete Clifton says: "Streaming BBC News 24 enhances our commitment to providing news on-demand, allowing people to consume news in the time and format of their choosing whether it's live video streaming, reading an online text story or via Ceefax."

For the past few years the continuous news channel has been streamed through the website in order to cover major news stories but now BBC News 24 will always be available to UK audiences to watch live online.

Kevin Bakhurst, Controller, BBC News 24, says: "I'm really pleased that the UK's most-watched news channel is now available cross-platform, on tv, online and mobile phones – 24 hours a day."

The BBC News website already offers a wide range of audio visual services online including the latest news packages, headlines summaries as well as current affairs programmes such as Panorama and Newsnight.

The audio-visual services reach an average of 250,000 unique users per month, with top stories reaching nearly a million unique users.

Adrian Van Klaveren, Controller of Production and Deputy Director of News, says: "Streaming the channel permanently is a key part of plans to make sure licence fee payers can access BBC content in the most convenient ways for them."

In addition, BBC News 24 is now streamed live to viewers with access to the 3G mobile phone network.