Is 40 too old to be going on dates? Of course not, if, like me, you're over 40 and single! If you have chased the career or have already been married once before, it's pretty common these days to find yourself wanting to start fresh in your 40s or 50s. But for the first time, there are some statistics that point to a huge increase in people over forty using online dating sites. Leading mature dating site, SingleAndMature.com, has revealed that they saw a huge spike in new members last month, with a whopping 70% increase in new joiners. The site attributes this to a growing sense of freedom in mature people regarding finding a new partner. The spokesperson also explained that a lot of its members who have found love on the site are recommending it to their single friends. A friend in need and all that...

But does online dating really work for mature people? Apparently so. Single And Mature claim that they see a lot of success stories. 'We recently had a wonderful letter from a woman named Lynne, who met her partner on the site. We have been shocked by the success of the site. Demand from people over 40 has been huge.' Sounds like there's something in this online dating malarkey, so I might just have to give it a try. Let me know your experiences too!

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A SITE JUST FOR SINGLE PARENTS?

Now I don't have any kids yet, so this one may not be for me, but dedicated parent dating sites are also all the rage. Many of my single parent readers have commented before that it's hard to find a man or woman who is understanding about the fact they already have a kid(s). Parent dating sites could be the answer, as they claim to connect people who have kids or who are comfortable dating someone who is a parent. I guess that gets rid of that awkward conversation! SingleAndParents.com is one of the most successful and boasts over 1 million members. I take it back - I might well be interested in meeting a guy who has a cute kid and is in touch with his sensitive side. If he also happens to be a fireman, bonus!

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ARE PROFESSIONAL DATING SITES TOO EXCLUSIVE?

I'm not sure how I feel about this one. I'm all for people finding the right kind of partner for them, but do dating sites just for professionals indicate that someone who is not a professional is not worth meeting? I personally don't look at someone's career or status as a factor in whether they are attractive to me. However, I can accept that some people want to meet similarly career-focussed types. SingleAndProfessionals.com is aimed at exactly these people, and helps teachers, nurses to name a few, meet someone right for them. I might be interested in meeting a policeman in uniform on there...