Money can really buy you love!

Men who earn big bucks are considered a catch by women looking to marry, says a new survey.

Whoever said that money can’t buy love got it woefully wrong, for it seems that being financially sound is one of the prime requirements for men these days.

A survey in the UK has found that only men who earn £35,000 a year - £10,000 more than the national average of £22,248 - are considered ‘a catch’ by women, and have a better chance of settling down and passing on their genes.

In the poll of 1,250 people, 66 per cent said that they would prefer a partner who earned more than the national average, rather than one with a better sense of humour, looks, or a higher IQ.

As for how people judge whether another person is well off or not on first impressions, well it seems that the best indicator is a Surrey accent, as per 77 per cent.

The false sun-tan acquired by visiting parlours is not going to fool people, for only 1 per cent of those questioned associated it with being wealth.

Casual clothes, and not formals, also seem to be another indication, as nearly half of the people polled said that they would wear jeans, T-shirts and trainers if their income crossed the £100,000 mark. Only 7 per cent said that a suit indicated wealth.

The survey was carried out for a new television quiz show, Payday, on Five. Alex Menzies, a deputy commissioning editor with Five, said that the poll showed that wealth, more than any other quality, is what will get men the women of their dreams.

"They say you can't judge a book by its cover and you certainly can't judge a person by the clothes they wear or the way they speak. But wealth is now the biggest motivator for love, though it's tricky to know who's got a big piggy bank or an empty wallet," the Scotsman quoted him, as saying.