Nearly half British babies out of wedlock

LONDON, March 28 (UPI) -- The percentage of British babies are now born out of wedlock continues to approach 1-in-2, official figures show.

Data published by the Office for National Statistics show that in 2007, 44.4 percent of live births were outside marriage, The Daily Telegraph reported.

The proportion is the highest on record, up from 43.7 per cent the previous year.

The increase probably will continue in 2008.

The marriage rate in England and Wales is now the lowest since it was first calculated in 1862.