When it comes to infidelity, it seems that older people are much ahead as compared to younger men and women.

A new study has revealed that older couples are far more likely to cheat than their counterparts from the younger generation, and harbour no regrets, leading British newspaper the 'Daily Mail' reported.

Researchers have based their findings on a survey of over 55s and those aged between 18 and 34 years - 28 percent of the first group admitted being unfaithful to their partner as compared to 24 percent of the younger lot.

However, half of the younger generation surveyed said they were ashamed of their infidelity while only a third of the over-55s felt any regret about straying.

The study found that older couples were more liable to shrug off minor indiscretions and forgive their partners.

The researchers also found just half of the over-55s considered kissing someone else cheating, compared with 83 percent of those under 34.

In fact, younger people were also more likely to consider that suggestive text messaging, flirting or having dinner with someone without their partner's knowledge, as infidelity, the survey of 1,600 people revealed.

These older people were the children of the Sixties when free love was the order of the day. In their formative years, they were exploring alternative lifestyles and living together without marriage, so it's quite possible that this generation has a specific attitude of its own.

"When you've got to the age of 50 or so, you've been through the rough and tumble of life. You know these things happen, whether it is a kiss or an affair, and you know that you can't both maintain a state of humming sexual attraction and never look at anyone else.

"More important than that, you develop an intimacy and long-lasting relationship which would not be thrown away for a minor indiscretion," said Emma Soames, the Editor-at-Large of Saga Zone, which conducted the survey.