London, Jan 22 (IANS): Social networking website Facebook is being blamed for a growing number of divorces in Britain as many married partners were caught cheating online.

A lawyer said how every divorce she has dealt with in the past nine months has involved the social networking website, according to The Sun.

Nowadays, even flirty messages and photos of new lovers after a split are being used by ex-spouses as "ammunition" in divorce proceedings.

Lawyers are advising couples to stop using Facebook and sites such as Second Life, Illicit Encounters and Friends Reunited until legal proceedings are finalised.

Emma Patel, of Hart Scales & Hodges Solicitors, in Surrey, has dealt with 30 divorces since May, and all of them involved Facebook.

"Suspicious spouses have used it to spy and find evidence of flirting and even affairs, which have then led to break-ups," she said, warning against "public slagging matches" on the site.