Honesty, a good sense of humour and a caring attitude. These are the top qualities that people living in the South West look for in a partner, according to a new study.

Relationship support charity Relate has carried out an in-depth study into long-term relationships to mark its 80th anniversary this autumn.

Over 2,000 adults were polled, of which 186 were based in the South West. The research reveals the key qualities people look for in a long-term partner.

For those in the South West, honesty was the most important quality with 67% of people selecting this from a list of options. This was closely followed by ‘a good sense of humour’ (53%) and ‘being caring’ (48%).

The study also found that people in the South West were the most likely out of any region to say ‘having a pet’ was the secret to a successful and fulfilling relationship – 8% said this compared to 3% across all regions.

Sheila Maycock, the Centre Manager at Relate Dorset & South Wiltshire said: “People really value honesty, so we weren’t surprised to see this was chosen as the best secret to a long-lasting and fulfilling relationship.

“It’s when trust is lost and people have stopped talking to each other openly and honestly that many couples seek support with Relate. Once trust in a relationship is broken, it can take a long time to repair, but with hard work, dedication and the support of a counsellor, it’s certainly possible.”

It is interesting to see how people from the South West compared to the rest of the UK in this study. More than half (52%) of people in relationships from this part of the country manage to say ‘I love you’ to their partner every day compared to 53% across all parts of the UK.

They are the most likely to surprise each other every day compared to the rest of the country (11% vs 8%.) In addition, almost half (49%) had a laugh with their partner every day compared to 50% across all parts of the UK.

But people in the South West who were in relationships were just slightly less likely to pay each other a compliment every day – 28% did this compared to 30% across all parts of the UK.