The Lord Mayor of Bradford is backing a campaign promoting healthy relationships as the key factor for a happy retirement.

Relate Bradford is spearheading the national campaign and urging people who are retired or approaching that period in their lives to complete a ‘Relationship Checker’ to consider how their partnerships might need to adjust.

The campaign has been set up following results of a survey carried out by the charity which has found that 91 per cent of couples say their relationship is good for a happy retirement.

Also nationally, one in five over-50s said they lacked the confidence of forming new friendships and relationships.

The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Dale Smith and his wife, Lady Mayoress Margaret Smith, attended the launch of the campaign at the Relate centre in Cheapside today.

Coun Smith, who is approaching the end of his term as Lord Mayor, said: “My wife and I have been together for 48 years but it feels like only yesterday that we met.

“This survey tells us that strong and healthy relationships are a key ingredient for a good old age. I totally agree with this – I think it is our ability to laugh together at the world and things that happen which keeps us going. I think also happiness comes from keeping active, both mentally and physically.

“Relate has evidence that people often don’t seek help until things are going badly wrong in their relationship and I wholeheartedly support the campaign to encourage people to invest early to get the most out of their old age.”

The survey revealed how personal relationships are regarded as one of the most important things when people think about getting older.

Gill Midgley, manager of Relate Bradford said: “It is concerning to see that one in five people aged 50 and over lack confidence in forming new friendships and relationships.

“We know that older people’s relationships are undergoing significant social change, but this has been largely overlooked in the wider debate about our ageing society.”