Britain's increasing divorce rate is being partly blamed on Internet sites that reunite people and discreet text messaging services.
The Office of National Statistics reported there were 153,490 divorces in England and Wales last year, an increase of 5,755 over the previous year and the third successive annual increase.
Christine Northam, a senior counselor for Relate, a marriage counseling firm, said the Internet is responsible for a growing number of affairs.
"People sit in front of their computers all day and use their spare time to find out what happened to old flames or embark on something new -- it makes it all very easy," she told the Independent.
The agency also said people find it easier to have affairs than before, by using text messages and e-mails for discreet communication.
© Copyright 2004 by United Press International
