7 out of 10 Brit adults live by themselves

London, July 19 : When it comes to living, it seems Brits like their own separate space, for according to a new survey, almost seven out of 10 adults live by themselves.

According to the research, Britain is an increasingly lonely place where the typical suburban family appears to be disappearing.

The number of over-18s living on their own soared by a quarter between 1996 and 2006 to hit two-thirds, the study found.

And in a damning illustration of our fragile relationships, the study revealed seven out of 10 parents are bringing up children on their own.

"The traditional household is no longer the norm. The growing number of single-occupancy homes, single-parent families and house-shares means the 2.4 typical family, the once accepted symbol of suburban Britain, is no longer the average household," the Mirror quoted Garry Skelton, of pollster Legal and General, as saying.

The Changing Face of British Homes polled almost 30,000 adults.

It found nine out of 10 feel communities have changed beyond recognition - with pub closures and the disappearance of the milkman among the most notable differences.

And the notion of an "average" family does not exist - even in households of two adults and two children - as almost 70 per cent of those quizzed said they did not fit into that stereotype.

ANI