Already one of the most popular photo-sharing sites on the net, the addition of video hosting pits Flickr against Google's YouTube.

However, Flickr members will only be able to post videos up to 90 seconds, far less than the 10-minute uploads that YouTube offers.

And only Pro account members, who pay $24.95 (£12.70) annually, will be able to upload the videos, which appear as thumbnails on member's home pages.

"We want to be the eyes of the world - that's what's tattooed on our hearts," said Kakul Srivastava, general manager of Flickr. "There's no reason why that shouldn't include video."

Flickr has stated that as of now it is not interested in opening the floodgates but wants to maintain the unique culture it has built up.

Flickr's foray into video follows similar moves by other photo-sharing websites like SnapFish and SnugMug, which both let members upload video content.

According to the Flickr blog, limiting videos to 90 seconds came after serious consideration. In the end they came up the idea that videos should be "long photos… capturing slices of life to share".

Flickr was bought by Yahoo three years ago. The internet giant has not taken an active part in running the photo site despite closing Yahoo Photo last year.

Flickr's monthly unique visitors grew 55 per cent to 42 million in February from the same month a year earlier.

www.flickr.com

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