Applications for divorce reached their highest level ever last year, new data from the Courts Service reveals.

Some 5,266 applications were made, an increase of 29pc on 2019, and by far the highest annual figure since divorce was introduced in 1997.

Legal experts put the massive rise down to changes in the law which reduced the waiting time for divorce.

However, applications for judicial separation dropped by half to just over 600.

The Covid-19 effect could also be seen in data on domestic violence applications, which jumped by 12pc last year.