More than a quarter of a million apps were launched in the Apple UK App Store in 2011, with two-thirds for the iPhone and iPod Touch devices and a third for the iPad, according to stats gathered by European mobile ad network madvertise and "bargain hunting" service AppZapp.

In total, 255,922 apps were launched in 2011 at an average of 21,326 per month, or 701 per day. December was the busiest month, with 28,922 apps launched in the run-up to Christmas.

Titles designed for the iPhone and iPod Touch made up 67 percent of launches, with the remaining 33 percent optimised for the iPad.

The categories experiencing the most growth on the iPhone and iPod Touch were lifestyle (106 percent), education (99 percent), games (94 percent), entertainment (78 percent) and books (34 percent).

The education category grew the most for the iPad, with a 205 percent increase. Lifestyle followed with (195 percent), games (192 percent), entertainment (154 percent) and books (95 percent).