31-year-old Ashton Kutcher with wife Demi Moore who is 46Twenty years ago, the idea of having a toyboy was more the realm of the shoulder-padded temptresses of Dynasty than that of real life.

But things have changed. A new survey has revealed that one in three over 40s are on the lookout for a younger man.Even the celebrities are at it, with Madonna, Demi Moore and Dannii Minogue all dating (or marrying in Demi's case) considerably younger fellas.

In 2005, only eight per cent of single women in their 40s and 50s confessed that they would date a man five or more years their junior.

These days, more than a third are considering a younger chap.

The survey of 4,500 singles, conducted by online dating service Parship, found that 34 per cent of women in their 40s and 50s would be happy with a toyboy.

On the male side of things, those open to the seductions of an older lady has increased from just five per cent four years ago, to 18 per cent today.

Parship's dating expert, psychiatrist Dr Victoria Lukats, told the Daily Mail: "For many women, their priority becomes finding a partner with whom they are compatible, irrespective of age."

That may well be the case, but we're sure there are some other advantages.

Tell us what you think? Is dating a younger man more acceptable these days and would you consider, as Madonna has, dating a man who is nearly 30 years your junior?