ADULTERY is the top reason Lancashire couples divorce, according to a leading law firm.

Napthens, which has two East Lancashire offices, found that ‘playing away’ was to blame for 40 per cent of recent divorce petitions.

Where unreasonable behaviour was cited, drinking too much accounted for 30 per cent of divorces, financial irresponsibility was blamed for a fifth and 20 per cent was down to a ‘lack of participation in family life’.

Another 20 per cent divorced after two years’ separation, with no reasons given.

Simon Gledhill, head of the family department at Napthens, which has offices in Blackburn and Chorley, said: “These are interesting statistics which show in particular that couples are placing a lot of importance on financial responsibility – hardly surprising in the months following such a recession.”

Nationally, divorce rates are at their lowest since 1974, according to the Office for National Statistics.