Extramarital affairs are cited as the most common reason for divorce in the UK and Wales, accounting for 29 per cent of break ups, a survey revealed today.

The survey of 100 leading divorce lawyers in England and Wales pointed out that growing numbers of people are divorcing because of "mid-life crisis".

Extramarital affairs were the most common cause of marriage breakdown for the survey's fifth year running, accounting for 29 per cent of divorces in 2007, down from 32 per cent the previous year.

According to the survey, 78 per cent of the straying spouse is usually the husband. The percentage of cases in which the wife is the guilty party dropped from 31 per cent in 2006 to only 22 per cent in 2007.

Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com, Feb. 25, 2008