THE bottom appears to be falling out of the thong market.

Sales of thongs in the UK have dropped by 20 per cent and although they remain strong among women aged 25 and under their sales from older woman have begun to sag, new figures show.

Yet they still account for £38m of the £165m women's underwear industry.

Figures show that more discreet, shorts-style knickers are now becoming popular.

Rachel Argyle, from TNS, said: "The bottom has not completely dropped out of the thong market, not yet.

"There is still a future for the thong. There is just a wider range of more comfortable alternatives out there."