The BBC World Service has started a new Thai and English digital stream offering impartial news and information to the nation, following a military coup.

But the decision to restart a service for Thailand is unlikely to see the return of the BBC Thai radio service, which broadcast for 60 years before closing in 2006.

A ‘pop up’ news operation, this news stream on social media will initially have a trial run of three months.

When the military took over in May, international channels were taken off air temporarily and numerous domestic radio and TV services were closed.

Thailand has a population of 67 million with 24 million Facebook users, out of which 13 million are in the Greater Bangkok area alone. The number of FB users is up by 320 percent over the last year, according to a BBC release.

Liliane Landor, Controller of Language Services for the World Service, said: “One of the fundamental principles of the World Service is to bring impartial and accurate news and to countries when they lack it. land is one of the most digitally advanced societies in South East Asia and this means we can set up this operation quickly and cost-effectively.”