Brits are no longer interested in writing love letters to their partners, according to a new survey.

A poll, conducted by Bradford & Bingley has found that 35 per cent of 16 to 34-year-olds have never written an ode to the one they love, while fewer than one in five people have received a letter from their sweetheart in the past five years.

"The old-fashioned love letter appears to have had its day," said Paul Whitlock, head of savings at Bradford & Bingley.

The study also found that singletons were more likely to have received some loving words in the past 12 months (24 per cent) than those who were already married or co-habiting with their other half (17 per cent).

But it looks like not all traditional courting devices have disappeared. British ladies still value a man with good values, with 63 per cent citing it as their most important characteristic, according to Debrett's.

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