More than half of women would consider asking a male friend to father their child if they failed to find the right partner by a certain age, a survey suggests.

A survey of attitudes towards contraception found that 56 per cent of women would think about such a course of action in the absence of the right man. The report showed that both single men and women in Britain have concerns about fertility and meeting the right partner.

More than two thirds of women not at present in a relationship worry that they will not be able to conceive naturally, while 26 per cent of men have similar concerns.

About half of single female respondents said that they thought about meeting the right partner frequently or daily, with many suggesting that they would consider settling for second-best if their search were fruitless.

More than one in three men and women would reconsider staying with a partner who could not conceive.

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