Women suffer more with loneliness following the loss of a partner than men, a study has found.

Almost twice as many women said that feelings of loneliness were the hardest thing they faced following a bereavement.

Experts said this was because women valued close one-on-one relationships more than men did, and were also more likely to admit to feeling lonely.

Around 30 per cent of women said loneliness was the most difficult thing they faced after losing a partner, compared to 17 per cent of men.

Charity Independent Age, who produced the research, said the findings showed that women struggled with bereavement despite being more able to talk about their feelings with friends and family.

Women said they found talking to friends more helpful than men did, with 53 per cent saying it helped them deal with grief, compared to 35 per cent of men.

The study also found that one in five people aged over 65 who have been bereaved for three or more years still feel lonely.

Janet Morrison, chief executive of Independent Age, said, “The poll shows the stark difference in the way that men and women deal with grief.

"Although women talk more to friends and family about how they’re feeling, they still report greater feelings of loneliness."