From Monday an estimated one million mobile phone users will be able to start topping-up their mobiles using cash machines.

With this service, you don't have to go to the super market and top up your phone, you can do it when you want

Gary Brown, Abbey National

The mobile top-up service will be available to any Abbey National customer who has an Orange pay-as-you-go mobile, and it is the first service of its kind in the UK.

Abbey National estimates that about one million of its customers could benefit from the joint venture.

The launch follows a successful pilot earlier in the year.

Other networks

Customers will be able to carry out the transaction at more than 3,000 Abbey National cash machines around the UK.

They will be able to credit up to �50 to their phone, after following a few steps via the ATM's screen.

Abbey National said the transaction would be almost instantaneous, and the credit would register on the phone, by the time the "receipt was in the user's pocket".

The UK is one of the last European countries to introduce such a service.

It is estimated that since the service was launched in Belgium three years ago, about 30% of customers are now topping up using a cash machine.

The service is operated by Euronet, an electronic transactions company, which acts as intermediary between the bank and mobile network operator.

Euronet already offers the service in seven countries worldwide, including Indonesia, along with six European countries, which include Hungary and Poland.

Expansion

More mobile operators are expected to sign up to the service in the future.

Gary Brown, director of product acquisition at Abbey National, told BBC News Online that he believed the service would be particularly popular with younger mobile users, who were often at ease with using new technology.

Mr Brown said: "We're delighted that, with Orange, we are the first to launch this innovative service.

"We are fully committed to improving the convenience of our financial services, and this new service will help make customers' lives earlier."

"With this service, you don't have to go to the supermarket and top up your phone, you can do it when you want."