LOVE is in the air this week...not only is it St Valentine's Day on Thursday, but it's also National Marriage Week. Despite high divorce rates, marriage is enjoying a bit of revival - latest figures show the number of couples tying the knot has gone up for the first time since 1992.

Other research shows that married people live longer while a legal shake-up allowing us to marry almost anywhere means it will be easier to take the plunge.

The ailing institution has also been given a boost in recent years thanks to high-profile celebrity marriages, such as Jamie and Jools Oliver, David and Victoria Beckham as well as Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston.

But with large numbers of unions still ending in divorce and many couples choosing to cohabit and raise children out of wedlock, has marriage had its day? Here's what some of our panel think...

Pamela Egan, 57, of York. Pamela was widowed at 37 and married her second husband, Peter, when she was 40.

"I am sure a happy marriage with a family is the ideal we all dream of and aspire to. Sadly, it doesn't always work out. I think the majority of young people still take their relationships very seriously. Religion seems to have gone out of the equation so I think it is good the Government is relaxing the rules of where you can get married. A happy marriage with a mum and dad is the best environment for children. I don't believe in having to work at relationships. What ever happened to being in love and just wanting to be with somebody because they make you happy?"

Katherine Hague, 35, of York lives with partner Greg. They have been together for ten years.

"I'm not a religious person, but I am wrangling over whether to get married. It wouldn't be in church, but I'd like to have something official in front of my friends and family that says these people will be together for ever. I think it's brilliant there will be more choice of places where you can get married; so you can pick a venue that is important to you. There's still a place for marriage today - especially if you have children."

Dorothy Dawson, 62, of York, been married to Clive for 36 years.

"I know a lot of people who lived together for years but ended up getting married. It seems that marriage is still the ultimate goal and people don't feel their relationship is complete unless they get married. It's nice that marriage is on the up, but people have got to be realistic: everyone has weaknesses and faults and they are not going to change just because they are married. People have to realise a marriage is not a magical fairytale. You can expect hard times, but that can bring you closer. I think there should be more help for couples having trouble...a centre where they can go for advice. People who get divorced think they are the only ones who have problems, but everyone does."

Updated: 15:02 Thursday, February 14, 2002