Blondes don't have more fun: survey

A third of first dates in Britain end in disaster, according to research by online dating firm parship.co.uk.

But flaxen-haired hopefuls are a quarter more likely to have their dreams of true love nipped in the bud than their brunette or red-headed counterparts, it found.

Blondes are apparently the most likely of anyone to have attempted to seduce a first date with reminiscences about an ex, seen their judgement impaired by drinking too much, bed their date at the end of the night, and even forget the name of their would-be paramour.

A total of 1,300 people were surveyed by internet dating firm parship.co.uk in an attempt to discover why so many first dates ended with both parties vowing never to cross paths again.

Spokeswoman Penny Conway said: "Although it's unlikely a person will behave differently simply because of their hair colour, they may act out of character if they are being treated badly, or according to a stereotype."

The company found that misguided ideas of alluring behaviour - including turning up late, running away from a partner, getting drunk, and telling their potential partner choice tales about their ex and previous sexual conquests - was responsible for dampening any first flames of passion. And, according to the survey, most of the eight million people looking for love will never hear from their date again.

Nearly half (48%) of women questioned admitted to turning up late to a first date, with 10% of them keeping their man waiting for over half an hour. Some 12% of women said they had taken advantage of a date's momentary absence at the bar or loo to flee the scene, and 5% of men and women confessed to arriving at a bar or restaurant, being horrified by what greeted them, and heading for the door.

A total of 28% said they had tried to seduce their date with stories about their ex and previous sexual conquests, 14% admitted getting too drunk to stay in control of themselves, and 6% confessed that they had decided to bring along their mother or pet to meet their potential partner. And 30% of men and 20% of women admitted to going home with their date, with one in four men (26%) and one in five women (20%) saying they had later bedded them.

Doctor Victoria Lukats, parship's relationship expert, said the results were "staggering". She said: "A first date can be like negotiating through a minefield. Dating faux pas can be put down to several factors, including bad manners, nerves, inexperience, or lack of compatibility. But it really does break all the rules of social etiquette to abandon your date during a trip to the toilet."