The latest figures released by the Office for National Statistics reveals the divorce rate to be at the lowest in over 20 years. In England and Wales there were 141,135 divorces in 2007 compared with 144,556 in 1999. The rate per 1000 married couples has also dropped.

Experts suggest the reduced number of divorces could be attributed to the general decline in marriage and the growing popularity of co-habitation. Currently the most likely couples to end a marriage are those in their twenties and one in five people who get divorced have done so previously.

In contrast, the over sixties are bucking the trend with the number of ‘silver-haired’ divorces reaching an all time high.