The average person will fall in love four times during their life, a 2012 survey has revealed.

Researchers found a typical adult will become besotted with four different people over the course of a lifetime – with three quarters falling in love at least once before they even turn 20. It also emerged the average person then settles down by the age of 27. But worryingly more than four in 10 admit  they settled for "second best" because the person they have ended up with isn’t the one they loved the most.

Furthermore, 61 percent of those admitted they regretted letting "The One" go and making do with someone else.

A spokesperson for Opera North, which carried out the study in London, said, "Falling in love for the first time is a huge milestone in life.

"What is clear is that where love is concerned, nothing is simple, and that love is in itself a merry-go-round, as people circle through different relationships and stages of life.”

The study of 2000 adults found eight out of 10 fall head over heels for someone during their 20s, with almost one in 10 declaring their feelings to three separate people over this period in their lives. Our 30s will then see 40 percent fall in love again while another 30 percent will fall in love at least once more after reaching 40. Only a lucky 33 percent were found to settle down with their first love.

Researchers also revealed 41 percent have fallen in love with someone they shouldn’t have, with almost half admitting this has happened more than once. Almost one in 20 have even fallen in love with five or more people they shouldn't have, with a work colleague most likely to be the target of their affection. A best friend, stranger and even a friend's mum or dad featured in the list.

But 77 percent of people believe you can't help who you fall in love with and a third of people also think you can be in love with more than one person at once. However, the study also found four in 10 have been in love with someone and not had the feeling returned by the other person. And while a third of people have tried to get back together with a past love at some point, only one in three of those ended up back in their ex's arms.