Younger adults hardly ever speak to neighbours

A QUARTER of people aged under 35 rarely or never speak to their neighbours, according to research published today.

A report by Royal Mail revealed they are more likely to keep in touch with someone on the other side of the world, with more than a third making regular contact with a friend or relative overseas.

A third of young adults only occasionally exchange pleasantries with a neighbour, the Royal Mail's 21st Century Family report showed. But more than 70 per cent of over-55s often chat with people living nearby and more than half say they are close friends.

Nearly a third of under-35s say they would not know their neighbour if they saw them, would only offer to help a neighbour if it was absolutely necessary and do not want to get to know them any better.

Stephen Davie, director of international communications for Royal Mail said: "The global village continues to shrink and in these days of improved communication we are just as likely to feel we are `neighbours' with someone across the world as across the street."

The report also revealed people live further away from relatives now than in the past, although most still live within an hour's journey. It showed that 72 per cent of grandparents still see their grandchildren at least once a week.

Just over one-third of adults in Britain would like to live abroad in the future, with the US, Australia and Spain the favourite destinations.