Cheating map reveals how many people are playing away in Hartlepool

The interactive Infidelity Index for 2016, which lists the number of people having affairs in Britain, shows Hartlepool has 318 love cheats, according to IllicitEncounters.com.

The website has compiled the figures based on the geographical data of of its one million-plus members.

Darlington is home to the most adulterers in County Durham with 608. Barnard Castle, with 86 adulterers, is home to the least in the county.

The overall standings saw High Wycombe crowned the most adulterous town in the UK, sporting the highest relative percentage of cheaters (2.12%). It was closely followed by Guildford and Aldershot, who came 2nd and 3rdrespectively, with 2.05% and 2.03% of their population cheating.

Cumbernauld, 5th in the overall UK table, was Scotland's cheating capital. Wrexham, a lowly 55th in the UK table, was Wales's cheating capital.

IllicitEncounters.com spokesman Christian Grant said: "More and more people are signing up to the site every year.

"The reason for the surge in subscriptions is that record numbers of married couples in County Durham are living together unhappily because they simply cannot afford to divorce.

"Spiralling house prices and living costs have made financially impossible for couples to set up two homes following a split, so they struggle on while seeking excitement elsewhere."

Mr Grant said IllicitEncounters.com was aimed at people who were looking for fun, but didn't want to upset the applecart at home.

For the overall results, and to see who is cheating in your locality, go to www.infidelityindex.co.uk

Town No. of Adulterers

Darlington 608

Brandon 584

Hartlepool 318

Shildon 178

Barnard Castle 86