For a long time online dating has been seen as a less romantic way of meeting Mr. Right. Research now shows that finding love over the internet is an increasingly easy way of meeting a marriage partner.

Results revealed that 1 in 5 who used online dating sites to look for a long term relationship have gone on to marry someone they met over the web. More than half of the 1,504 people questioned had been on a date with someone they met in cyberspace.

62% agree that it is easier to meet someone on a dating site rather than in a pub or club, or through friends.

The under-35s group were more likely to know someone who had been on a date or had a long-term relationship with someone they met through online dating.

Jess Ross, editor of which.co.uk, said: ''Online dating is revolutionising the way people meet each other. Switching the computer on could be the first step to success.''

According to industry surveys, more than 22million people visit dating websites e4ach year globally - with more than two million Britons are signed up.

A study by Bath University revealed that those who met on dating websites were 94 % more likely to see each other after their first meeting than other couples.

Dr Jeff Gavin, said: �To date, there has been no systematic study of love in the context-of relationships formed via online dating sites�.