Online dating tried by 50% of Brits

Over half of all people in the UK who use the internet have registered with an online dating site, according to a new survey.

Research carried out by web-based dating agency Topdates.co.uk has found that 53 per cent have signed up to a dating site. What's more, 83 per cent said that had used an online dating agency at some point, while a third of the respondents admitted that they were too shy to approach people in clubs or pubs, and that was why they had tried looking online for a partner.

A spokesperson for Topdates said: "Internet dating is becoming more and more popular in our fast-moving world but it's a sad state of affairs when people say they are too busy to go out and socialise. However, it can be a great way to meet people online and you can search for people who are into similar things to you or who live nearby."

"Internet dating can also eliminate those first date nerves as you would have spent so much time talking to each you other you may already feel like to know that person before you meet them."

Of the 3,000 people who took part, 25 per cent said they maintained a relationship with a person they had met via a website, 60 per had been dating them for over a year, and six per cent said they had gone on to marry them.