ONE in 10 British men say they have paid for sex, according to a new study.

In addition, 3.6 per cent of the 6,000 men surveyed admitted going to prostitutes in the past five years.

Single men aged 25 to 34 in managerial or professional occupations and those with high numbers of sexual partners were the most likely to say that they had done so. The research is published in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections.

Lead scientist Dr Cath Mercer, from University College London, said: "The picture that emerges does not necessarily fit the stereotype of the lonely older man.

"In fact, men who pay for sex are more likely to be young professionals with many other unpaid sexual partners.

"Many report other hedonistic and risky behaviours including heavy drinking and drug taking."