iPad UK shipping date slips to June 7

Apple has shifted the UK pre-orders shipping date for the iPad to next month following "strong" demand for the tablet computer.

Earlier in the month, Apple confirmed that the iPad would become available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK on May 28.

Pricing starts at £429 for the 16GB WiFi-only model, rising to £699 for the premium 64GB version supporting both WiFi and 3G. Vodafone, Orange and O2 have already announced data tariffs for the iPad's UK launch.

Apple began taking pre-orders for the device on Monday, which has led to a similar surge of interest as seen prior to the US launch at the start of April.

The firm has therefore announced via its website that the 'ships by date' for pre-orders will now be June 7, ten days after initially planned.

However, the company said that anyone who has already pre-ordered the iPad will still receive the product as promised on May 28.

Apple confirmed at the start of May that it had sold the millionth iPad in North America in around half the time it took the iPhone to achieve a same feat.