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A tenth of couples in the UK sleep apart

British couples lead increasingly independent lives, says study.

In an apparent attempt to strengthen their relationship, British couples are spending less time together than ever before, according to a report by insurance company Esure.

The research found that seven per cent of people spend more time with their pets than with their partner. Another third of Brits said they’d never been away with their other half.

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Perhaps taking inspiration from Helena Bonham Carter and her husband Tim Burton, who sleep in different rooms because she can’t stand his snoring, more than one in ten couples sleep separately every night of the week.

But it’s not the sad state of affairs it appears at first glance. Five per cent of participants said that sleeping away from each other was the main reason they had such a happy relationship.

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It seems that couples see these time apart as a way to achieve a healthy relationship. The study found that 39 per cent of participants thought they had a better relationship because of their independent lives.

Couples spend on average four hours together per day, with participants blaming ‘going to the gym’ (16 per cent) and ‘seeing friends’ (20 per cent) as reasons for being too busy to see each other more.

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Another 34 per cent say they’ve been on holiday without their partner, with eight per cent said even claiming they’d rather go away with their friends or family than with their other half. Charming…

"It is clear British couples are becoming more independent from each other,” said Nikki Sellers, head of home underwriting at Esure.

"It certainly appears that Brits do believe that absence makes the heart grow fonder."

What do you think? Are you free as a bird or joined at the hip?