Saying sorry costs billions

Sorry may be the hardest word to say - and also the most expensive. Britons spend more than £12billion a year grovelling to their partners, a report showed yesterday.

Coming home late and forgetting anniversaries has sent the bill for chocolates, flowers and weekends away soaring.

It seems men are much more likely to be in the doghouse than women. Their forgive-me presents account for about £10billion of the total bill.

'Most of us have to appease our partners from time to time and this often involves spending money,' said Prudential, which conducted the survey.

Spokesman James Murray added: 'It would seem men are either more at fault in their relationships than women or that they have more of a guilty conscience.

Women spend only about £2billion a year saying sorry.'