Failing marriages revealed by census

The population has grown quickly in Dartford

The 2001 census figures released on Thursday show that Thanet has the fourth highest rate of failing marriages in Britain.

Thanet, where 13.5% of people are separated or divorced, tops the rankings in Kent.

Thanet also has the highest rate of single-parent households in Kent and the lowest number of cars per household.

People in Shepway share some of the problems of families in Thanet, with the 34th highest rate of failing marriages in the country.

Population Figures

Dartford - 85,911

Shepway - 96,238

Thanet - 126,702

Tonbridge and Malling - 107,561

Elsewhere in Kent, the census shows a significant growth in population.

The Dartford area has seen its population increase by more than twice the national average of 2.5% since 1991.

The number of people has jumped by 6.7% to 85,911.

And Tonbridge and Malling has seen its population rise to 107,561, a 5.1% rise on the previous figure.

The Medway area has been slower to grow, recording only a 2.8% increase on the population figure for a decade ago.

Populations across Kent are largely white, with fewer than 3% of people in Thanet and 2% in Tonbridge and Malling from an ethnic minority.