Turning outdated stereotypes on their head, a new study has found that those aged over 65 are half as lonely as people under the age of 34.

Pensioners are also three times less lonely than people aged 16-24.

Almost one in ten people aged 16-24 report feeling lonely often or always.

The Office for National Statistics studied self-reporting from a 2016-2017 Community Life survey.

Older people experienced loneliness the least, with just three percent of those aged 65 or over saying they experienced loneliness regularly.

The state pension age equalised at 65 this month. It will increase to 66 by 2020, 67 by 2028 and 68 by 2037.