A poll found that 18 per cent of men did not have a close friend and 32 per cent had no one they counted as a best friend

No man is an island entire of itself, as John Donne observed. Men are, however, much more likely than women to lead solitary lives without people they consider to be friends.

Almost one in five men admits to having no close friends, a survey has found, prompting charities to urge men to make more time for hobbies and socialising.

A poll by YouGov found that 18 per cent of men did not have a close friend and 32 per cent had no one they counted as a best friend.

The figures were significantly higher than those for women, with 12 per cent of women saying they did not have close friends and 24 per cent saying they lacked a best friend.

The online survey of