PEOPLE in Hampshire have revealed that when it comes to having sex, life really does begin at 40.

In a survey of 385 women and 443 men, the majority said the best time to have sex was in their 40s.

The survey by the UK’s largest married dating site Illicit Encounters disproves the theory that younger men and women have more fun in the bedroom.

In contrast 23 per cent of women and 26 per cent of men thought they hit their peak in their 30s, making this the second best decade for sexual relationships.

It seems for many people, it’s a case of quality over quantity with the respondents opting for their 40s even though most had more sex earlier in their life.

More than half said they were in the peak of their sex life in their 20s with the majority of their sexual liaisons happening at this age.

The main reason for people selecting their forties was that they felt more sexually experienced at this time.

It seems to quash a recent survey by health supplement supplier Healthspan saying that most people have gone off sex by the age of 41.

One female member on the dating site, said: ‘‘ In my thirties I had small children and I was more committed to my domestic arrangements. Now in my forties I feel free and liberated. The kids are older and less demanding on me.”

A Spokesperson for IllicitEncounters.com, said: “The 20-year-olds are having plenty of sex, but the 40-year-olds are actually enjoying it.

“Forty-year-olds have less hang-ups than 20-year-olds, and a plethora of experience under their wing – they really know what they want out of their intimate life – and that’s great sex!

“By making better choices in sexual partners we’re able to enjoy sex with the right person, which plays a massive factor in how good the sex actually is. This is particularly significant when taking into account we have the most sexual partners in our twenties and yet people feel that sex in your twenties is the worst! “We are in much better control over our sexual satisfaction the older we get, choosing quality over quantity!”