Craving a little romance? If the man in your life is under 53, you may be waiting some time. That, apparently, is the age at which men are their most romantic. Fifty-three year olds are much more likely to surprise their partner with a simple gesture such as a walk in the summer rain or a sprinkle of rose petals in the bath, a survey has found.

Fifty-three emerged as the age of romance in a poll of 2,000 men between 18 to 65. Of the 20 to 25 year olds, only one in four said they had recently treated their loved one to a candlelit dinner. But almost half of the over 50s had. “By the time a man reaches his 50s he has a wealth of experience under his belt and will be wiser about the things which please a woman. An affectionate 73% of older men said threy told their partners they looked beautiful all the time and 85% wouldn’t leave the house without kissing their loved one goodbye.