Pensioners making sex last a long time

British pensioners spend more time making love than younger people in their sexual prime, says a new lifestyles study that also claims the East Midlands is the "sexiest area in the country".

British pensioners spend more time making love than younger people in their sexual prime, says a new lifestyles study that also claims the East Midlands is the "sexiest area in the country".

Of nearly 1,000 people, 44 per cent of people older than 65 said they spent more than two hours a week making love, compared with just over one-quarter of those aged between 25 and 64 and less than one-sixth of those under 25.

Campaigners for the elderly said improved health and more open attitudes to sex at all ages were allowing the elderly to lead more active lives than they used to. Anna Butterworth of Age Concern said: "Some people may worry about losing sexual potential and powers as they get older, but the majority of these worries are unfounded as sex is something that anyone can enjoy throughout their lives.

"We know the enjoyment older men and women get from sex depends on their own determination to enjoy sexual pleasure," she said.

The findings, based on interviews by NOP Solutions, a marketing research company, show that pensioners are also highly conscious of their appearance, with the majority spending more than three hours a week grooming themselves and exercising.

The interviews also chose the East Midlands as the "sexiest area in the country", with 11 per cent of all age groups claiming to spend more than 10 hours a week making love.

By contrast, people in East Anglia were the least sexually active, according to the research, with 5 per cent spending less than one hour a week making love.