If you're determined to use Virgin for your new email address, read 'Creating additional email addresses', here:
http://www.virginmedia.com/help/email/get-star ted/about.php
However the usual advice given here is to use an email service which is independent of your ISP. (You can then change ISPs without having to change your email address). While there are hundreds of free email services which can only be accessed via the web, there are only a few which allow you to use either web-based access or an email client (such as Outlook Express or Windows Mail). The most popular of these is GMail:
http://tinyurl.com/dhlbux
However my own preference is to use Gawab. Instructions for creating a free (and advertisement free) Gawab account can be found in paragraph 3, et seq, of my post here:
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Technology/Inte rnet/Question407429.html
As Postdog suggests, avoiding using simple combinations of forenames and surnames in email addresses. (e.g.
[email protected] can easily be 'guessed' by a spammer). Use names like
[email protected] or something that doesn't involve a name at all.
Additionally, ensure that you've got several email accounts. (I've had over 100 but I'm only currently using 6). Keep your 'main' address secret from everyone except family members and your best friends. Use a different address to register on sites like this one, or for internet purchases. (If one of these 'spare' addresses starts getting spammed you can simply abandon it, without having to change your 'main' address).
Chris