A new survey in Britain has revealed that 48 per cent enjoy phone sex -- while women are more likely to indulge in the act with one in three or 50 per cent admitting they have tried spanking, in case of men it's 44 per cent.

"Attitudes towards spanking and bondage are changing. It seems that people -- particularly those living in cities and urban areas -- are becoming far more open to alternative sexual behaviour. The boom in sex chats is positively healthy. Phone sex is actually a pretty safe activity. You can't get pregnant and you can't get STD (sexually transmitted disease)," The Sun quoted UK Sex Report's author Christine Webber as saying.

The survey also revealed a huge increase in online sex. Almost one in three of those questioned -- 32 per cent of men and 22 per cent of women -- have pleasured themselves while talking over the computer.

Interestingly, the survey has found that one in five men are interested in wife swapping but they are unlikely to fulfill their fantasies as only one in 20 women is turned on by the idea of a swap.

The findings come in a poll of 400 people on the health website NetDoctor.

But Webber says it may provide a sexier than average snapshot of British bedrooms because people with a big interest in sex were the most likely to have taken part.

Just over half the men who took part and 37 per cent of the women admitted to cheating on their partner and there were more love-rats in the 51 to 60 age group than any other.