IT'S not a particularly decent thing to excel at, but the British are among the worst in Europe at stealing other people's partners and cheating on our own. We are more likely even than the hot-blooded Italians or romantic French to break up someone else's relationship by poaching their lover, claims an international study.

The research, by American scientists, found that a third of men and 28 per cent of women are guilty to the dastardly deed.

We Brits are forever being compared with Europe and generally we don't come off favourably. Yobbish football supporters, expensive wine, terrible farming practices are but a few of the labels attached to us by our European neighbours.

But we do have some good points. I've put together a personal list of the best of British ... and the worst:

The Best Of Britain:

Beer: Ours is far better than the fizzy lager served up in most European bars.

Pop music: We have never - with the exception of Abba - really believed that the stuff churned out in the Eurovision Song Contest constituted great pop music, whereas in Europe it's the highlight of the music calendar (an Austrian friend of mine writes every year asking excitedly, 'Did you see it? Wasn't it great?' Urrrgh!).

Making fun of ourselves: We are very self-deprecating - not something that is common across the Channel.

Queuing: We have infinite patience while standing in a line. The Eastern Europeans aren't bad, but in Western Europe it's often a free-for-all.

Making tea: If I cross the Channel, the tea bags come with me - because you really can't get a decent brew over there.

The Worst Of Britain:

Food: How many English restaurants do you see on the Continent? We may be famed for our fish and chips, but traditional English fare or meat and two veg is not exactly inspiring (despite efforts by Gary Rhodes & Co to jazz it up). Look at our apple pies - pastry and apply, no finesse. French apple tart with cinnamon, that's more like it.

Learning foreign languages: We don't seem to want to, whereas in Europe it's hugely encouraged and it's common to be bilingual.

Football: We invented the game, but we're not as good as our European neighbours and haven't won a major trophy since 1966. Now we've got a European manager, maybe things will improve.

Trains: How come ours are NEVER on time, and theirs (in my experience, Spain, Italy, France, Holland) are?

Abusing ourselves in the sun: Why do we feel we have to fry ourselves stupid every time the sun appears? The phrase 'mad dogs and Englishmen' is very fitting.

Looking stylish: French and Italian women know how to wear clothes - they can throw on a plain dress, stick on a bit of lipstick and look fabulous. We spend hours preening and dressing in fashionable clobber, and still look like a tired old sack of spuds.

Car prices: I've heard that in mainland Europe you can buy a brand new soft-top Mercedes for £30.

Now back to the partner-stealing. Experts believe that the reason for the high British score is linked to the decline of religion compared with Catholic European countries, and high-profile affairs among celebrities.

I've got another theory. My husband will certainly dispute it, but - another 'best' is European men. So much more attractive, sexy and all-round gorgeous, don't you think?

Maybe their women fight hard to hang on to them when another female makes a play.