Couples who are trying to save money during the recession have been getting their kicks at home, as suggested by the increase in birth rates over the past 12 months.

In 2008 - 2009 there were 791,000 births, an increase of over 33,000 on 2007, according to the Office of National Statistics. The overall population, including births, deaths and immigration has seen the UK population increase by 408,000, leading to the UK population tipple over the 61 million mark for the first time ever.

Of the 791,000 over 56 percent were births by non-British mothers.