The birth rate in England and Wales has fallen to the lowest since records began, official figures show, as families opt for 'environmentally friendly' two children.

The birth rate has hit a record low, falling from 11.6 to 11.1 live births per 1,000 people - the lowest since records began in 1938, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

The ONS said falling fertility rates were mainly responsible, but the fall could also have been exaggerated by an ageing population, with a larger proportion of older people compared with those able to bear children.

However Mumsnet, the website and forum for parents in the UK, said that it had seen an increasing number of its users voicing concerns about ‘environmentally-friendly parenting’.

Justine Roberts, Mumsnet CEO, said: "Like Harry, some Mumsnet users have made a conscious choice to only have two children (or some say one or even none) in a bid to conserve resources.

"But others make the point that making other changes like reducing waste as much as possible or flying less can have an impact too and family size isn't the only issue.