10 dubbed 'perfect number of lovers to have had in the past'

Researchers found that both men and women were put off potential new partners who had had more than 10 partners, as they were seen as promiscuous.

But partners who had had fewer than 10 lovers were seen as inexperienced.

Both men and women said that ten lovers was the right ‘Goldilocks' answer.

With ten lovers you are neither too hot nor too cold.

A popular dating website asked 1000 of its male and female members to list how many lovers they wanted a new partner to have.

Half of all women, and 46 percent of men said ten was the perfect figure, whereas 36 percent of women and 42 percent of men said they'd prefer a date with less experience.

11 percent of women and 10 percent of men said between 10 and 30 was the perfect figure - with just 3 percent of people wanting a partner who had had more than 30 lovers.

The participants were also asked if they wanted to know how many lovers a new partner had had in their past.

Just 35 percent of women wanted to know a man's total - against 65 percent who would rather not find out.

For men, only 30 percent wanted to know a woman's sexual history, against 70 percent who said they would rather not find out.

"The dating game is changing so quickly," the Daily Mail quoted the website's founder as saying.

"I think we are all becoming a lot more tolerant and sexually adventurous.

"If we had conducted this poll ten years ago, men would have expected a potential partner to have slept with far few people.

"But a gentlemen never asks a woman who many men she has slept with," he added.