More couples shun marriage

One of the country's leading marriage guidance groups is to change its name because of the growing number of couples living together.

The London Marriage Guidance Council will be known from today as Relationship Counselling For London.

Its move comes after research showed Londoners were more likely to co-habit than anyone else in Britain.

Couples in the capital are more likely to live together without being married than at any time in history. The organisation said that in March, for example, just 40 per cent of its clients were married.

The 65-year-old group's study of 2001 census results shows 30 per cent of all people living in London are living together, compared with 34 per cent who are married.

London boroughs make up 11 of the 13 areas in England and Wales with the lowest number of married couples. In Islington, just 25 per cent of all households include a married couple - compared to 50 per cent nationwide.

Chief executive Wendy Thomas said: "We are responding to the way people are living in London."

The organisation, which has 100 counsellors carrying out 24,000 sessions a year, hopes the new image means nobody will be put off from seeking help.

It fears many people think twice about contacting them because they are living together rather than married, and want counselling rather than "guidance".

"We're not just for married people and we don't offer guidance. We offer counselling for all couples," said Ms Thomas.

It is also launching a new freephone number, 0800 652 2342, and website - www.counselling4london.com - as part of its effort to reach London's troubled couples.

Ms Thomas added: "We offer a service which we are convinced is excellent."