Women in their 70s value sexual chemistry in a partner more than women in their 40s, according to new research.

The value women place on sexual attraction dips in middle age but returns after retirement, it is claimed.

The survey, conducted by parenting website Netmums and the magazine Saga, asked 9,000 women aged 16 to 75 what exactly they look for in a long-term partner.

It also found that young women today are seeking a tall, dark, handsome, ambitious and rich stranger while the older generation are far more concerned with kindness, reliability and friendship when it comes to their idea of the perfect partner.

Emma Soames, editor at large of Saga Magazine, said: "The results provide some intriguing insights into real relationships across the generations.

"It's reassuring to see that over 50, the desire for sexual chemistry returns, showing that women still value the thing that brought them together with their partner in the first place.

"It is surprising, however, that fewer place importance on honesty than their younger counterparts.

"Perhaps after many years in a relationship a sense of realism and pragmatism is more important than honesty to keep a relationship on track - that and a lower rate of infidelity and thus less suspicion of cheating in this age group."

Top of the wish-list for young women came honesty. However, for the older generation honesty is not the best policy. Less than half of the older women polled were bothered about their man telling the truth at all costs and would prefer a few kind words instead.

For almost half the young women polled, romance is far from dead - at least, that's what they hope. Nearly half (49 percent) admitted that finding someone prepared to wine and dine them was top of their wish-list.

Ambition came in second place, with 21 percent saying that they were after a man who had his sights set high.

Michael Buble and George Clooney are favourite males among the older generation, but when it comes to finding a partner for life, older women are not bothered by a beautiful face. Three times more young women were interested in how attractive their partner is.

(Read by Renee Haines. Renee Haines is a journalist at the China Daily Website.)

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(Agencies)