You’ve heard of the silver splitters – couples in their 50s and 60s who are calling time on their relationship. Now there’s an even more surprising trend – the ‘silver sneakies’, who are joining marital affair dating sites.

According to MaritalAffair.co.uk, one of the UK’s leading cheating dating sites, the over 50’s is the fastest growing demographic for memberships. The site has seen a 25% percent increase in membership of its 50-65 age range in the last year, alongside a 10% growth in overall memberships to the site. Not only that, but the 50-65 age group has a ratio of 3 women to every one man.

It’s surprising news for the website’s founder Paul Graham, who has always aimed his controversial dating site at younger age groups. “When we started up MaritalAffair.co.uk in 2006, it was mostly used by couples in their late 30’s or 40’s after their marriages were starting to go stale. Very often they’d had their first child, which tends to change relationship dynamics. Although that age group is still popular, by far the fastest growing demographic is the 50s-65s and 65 plus. These groups also seem to be more active online, suggesting that they have more time to spend online than younger, busier couples with young children.”

Love troubles in later life are nothing new. Recent findings from the Office for National statistics showed that the biggest spike in divorce is amongst couples at retirement age. Last year 9,439 aged over 60 were divorced, a 43% increase on a decade ago.

Last week, the actress Penelope Keith lashed out at mature couples who divorce. The star of The Manor Born even blamed later life divorcees for driving up house prices by going solo. In an interview with The Times, she said: “It’s all these women in their fifties and sixties who suddenly want their own space, to be their own people. To do what?”

The recent divorce statistics have prompted the nickname ‘silver splitters.’ But the latest revelation by MaritalAffair.co.uk shows that even the sexagenarians who do stay together are still looking to sneak behind their partner’s back. A taste for new romance and naughtiness clearly doesn’t diminish with age.

Graham added: “People in their 50s and 60s couldn’t fathom doing such a thing twenty years ago. Many of them have endured humdrum marriages for years and years. They probably haven’t made any time to do joint activities or to bond with each other. When the kids leave home they find there’s nothing left between them. But of course not everyone wants to walk away from a long marriage. Many prefer just a taster of new romance to make them feel alive again. Once they discover there is the technology that lets them do that and find it anonymously, there’s no stopping them.”