Those looking for a quick shag are more likely to use text to set up dates, according to a survey of 1,000 people carried out by online dating service Parship.co.uk.

Sixty per cent of casual daters set up their first dates by text, while those looking for love were more likely to make a voice call. Sixteen per cent of those casuals would also send a text directly after meeting up for the first time, while only three per cent of the romantic souls would do the same, preferring to wait a day or two and then follow up by phone.

"Whilst phoning someone you don't know very well to arrange a date may be more nerve-wracking, people who are really taking it seriously will feel the extra effort is worth it," commented Dr Lukats, who led the research.

The survey also reports that those in the north of England are most likely to use text to set up a first date (47 per cent), but whether that's because most of them are looking for a casual encounter is not recorded. ®

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