The British use the internet to say "I love you" more than anything else, according to a survey published today.

Of almost 2,000 people questioned, 61 per cent said they used the world wide web to pass on the romantic message.

The survey, by NOP for internet company Yahoo!, suggested the next favourite topic of conversation at 26 per cent was sport.

But while the British seem to have embraced the internet as a way of showing their romantic side, the third most popular use of e-mail was splitting up - 21 per cent.

Work-related matters filled the next two spots with 15 per cent in the survey using the new technology to hand in their notice and 13 per cent to ask for a pay rise.