Each year, millions of people pay substantial sums - sometimes thousands of pounds - for what they hope will be an introduction to someone with whom they can spend the rest of their life.

For a lucky few, the investment pays off.

But others lose both money and self-esteem and emerge from the experience feeling that what was promised was not delivered.

Citizens Advice helped with 300 complaints about dating agencies last year.

The majority related to substandard services and breach of contract.

This number is expected to be the "tip of the iceberg": many disgruntled clients of dating services are unlikely to complain out of embarrassment or, it is thought, because the process has left them bruised and lacking confidence.