Fewer people in Wiltshire are choosing to get married in religious venues, according to official figures.

In Wiltshire, 755 weddings were held in a church, synagogue or other religious venue in 2017, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

This means just 33 per cent of wedding ceremonies were religious, the lowest rate since records began in 2001.

This is a big decrease from the highest rate, 42 per cent, just seven years earlier.

The figures, which only include opposite-sex couples, show that less than a quarter (23 per cent) of weddings across England and Wales were religious in 2017.

The same ONS figures show 1.9 per cent of weddings held in Wiltshire were between same-sex couples – 18 between men and 27 between women.

It means the area is below the average across England and Wales, where a record 2.9 per cent of weddings involved same-sex couples in 2017.

Laura Russell, director of campaigns, policy and research at Stonewall, said: "While there’s still lots to do before the lived day-to-day experience of many lesbian, gay, bi and trans people is truly equal and many same-sex couples across the world aren’t able to marry, this news is a hopeful sign of more good things to come."

Humanists UK, the UK’s largest humanist group said the decline reflected couples increasingly their big day to match their non-religious beliefs.

The group said they already perform over 1,000 non-legally recognised humanist ceremonies each year in England and Wales.

Chief executive Andrew Copson said: "The vast majority of people in England and Wales identify as non-religious and this is growing each year with no sign of changing so it's not surprising that couples don't look to religion to celebrate the most meaningful moments in their lives any more.

"Instead they want non-religious ceremonies that reflect their beliefs, their values, and their love."

Across England, the number of marriages has remained steady over the last five years, with 242,842 in 2017.

Paul Butler, the Bishop of Durham, said a church wedding is a unique occasion where time-honoured vows are exchanged in a "special and spiritual atmosphere".

He said: "We know from research that many couples want this for their wedding day, whether they are regular churchgoers or not.

"I would like to reassure couples that they don’t have to be christened or confirmed, and we welcome couples who already have children – just ask."