THERE has been a steep rise in the number of marriage break-ups in west Wiltshire.

Trowbridge County Court issued 906 divorces in 2001, a rise of 15 per cent on the previous year, with 187 cases going through so far this year.

Court manager Mary Hamnett said there has also been a sharp increase in family work in general, which includes separation, children's issues and financial matters.

"There seems to have been a preponderance of divorces within the first few years of marriage and many more where the parties have been divorced and are on a second or third marriage," said Mrs Hamnett.

Peter Boyce, a senior divorce solicitor at Wiltshire firm Goughs, which specialises in divorce and family cases, said his firm saw a big increase in divorce work during 2001 at all of its seven offices in the county.

"Nationally, divorces were one per cent down in 2001 over the previous year so the trend in west Wiltshire is very much against that trend.

"Overall we saw a 25 per cent increase in family work," he said.

But the increase in cases going through the county court may also have something to do with its approach and the attitude of its staff.

"There is no doubt there has been a great increase in family work in the courts, but many solicitors choose Trowbridge County Court to issue divorce cases because it is recognised for its friendliness and efficiency," said Mr Boyce.

"The rise may be partly due to the helpfulness of the Trowbridge court staff, which has led some solicitors from outside the area to choose to issue their cases there".

Mrs Hamnett said the rise could be explained by demographics, employment, available transport systems and location of solicitors' offices.