The internet is set to be a key battleground in the London mayoral race, according to the Liberal Democrats.

The party's candidate, Simon Hughes, launched his new website on Friday with the first mayoral weblog.

Hughes claimed using the internet would give a more personalised approach to his campaign and encourage apathetic Londoners who have previously been turned off by politics to get interested in June's vote.

"With this website and blog, I am bringing 21st century technology to politics," he claimed.

"New and inspiring ways to communicate, especially with the young, and those that have been turned off by traditional politics, are needed to get Londoners voting.

"I hope by using the blog and a constantly changing website I will be able to interest, inspire and excite a new set of people who have never voted in election before."

Hughes also chose the event to launch a competition to design a flag for London that would fly above City Hall if he is elected as mayor.

He argued that the Capital - which has a population bigger than many countries - deserved its own flag.

"London has a population larger than that of 135 countries and yet it does not have its own flag to represent our great city," Hughes said.

"Counties have flags, cricket and football clubs have flags, even families have their own flag - it is time London had the same."