Age gap between couples 'is bigger than ever'

Lonely hearts looking for love online may be inspired by a new study that shows more couples than ever are marrying despite an age gap of ten years or more.

According to relationship counselling group Relate, the age gap between married couples has increased from two years in 2000 to eight years at present.

The Daily Mail reports on four couples who have crossed the age gap and found their perfect match, including one woman who married her father's best friend and another man, aged 44, who got together with a pensioner.

Jay Urquhart-Pettifer, 31, a housekeeper who lives in Coventry, got hitched to her dad's best mate, Anthony, 53. They now live together and despite initial unease from Jay's family, their relationship is very stong.

Furthermore, a 22-year age gap was no obstacle for Dilys Mulhearn, 66, and Austin, 44, from Lancashire. Although Dilys feared that Austin would want children, the pair have made their relationship work for them.

A couple who have stood the test of time in the world of celebrity are Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, despite their 25-year age gap. The couple began dating in 1998 and Douglas popped the question on New Year's Eve.

Are you looking for love over 50? Try online dating!