Britain is a nation of romantics

Romance is officially back, according to a new survey, which reveals an overwhelming 95 per cent of Brits want to be in a long term relationship - and more than half would like to tie the knot.

The LoveGeist Report 2009, commissioned by match.com, surveyed 16,000 people and discovered that 'fast food love' might well be coming to an end. Instead, security is becoming increasingly important with two out of three people stating they believe in marriage.

Three-quarters of those surveyed also said they believe falling in love involves being with someone who helps them to be a better person.

Report author Dr Monica Whitty, a psychologist at Nottingham Trent University, said: “A new cultural shift is afoot.  The report suggests Britain is moving away from its throwaway culture in favour of sustainable, long term relationships and finding the right match. Over half of singles say they have become more fussy about who they date and 84% say they will work harder to fix problems in future relationships.”

The study found the Welsh to be the most romantic, with Londoners sadly coming in last. And if you enjoy a good old-fashioned bit of chivalry, then head to Middlesbrough, where the highest percentage of men are happy to pay for the first date and hold open doors for the ladies.

The full LoveGeist Report 2009 is available online at www.lovegeist.co.uk and features a fully-interactive UK map with a breakdown of the key findings by region and 34 major towns and cities.