This agency promises to find you a ‘mate’ to have babies with – but it’s not cheap

Becoming a parent is a life goal for many women and men but with many of us focusing on our careers, having a baby can be put on the back foot.

Now there's a service that promises to make it happen for people who fear they've left it too late - and who have plenty of cash to spend. Like a dating agency, The Stork promises to bring together people. It's not about romance though as it's geared specifically to men and women looking to start a family. Aimed at educated, wealthy people who want to find someone they share values with, The Stork helps clients cut to the chase and skip getting into a relationship before having kids.

"Our members have everything — amazing careers, wealth, education, travel — but not the one thing they really want: a family," founder Fiona Thomas told the Daily Mail.

Its female members are typically aged between 37 to 41 while the men range in age from their late 30s to their 50s. The agency boasts an exclusive clientele including a marquess and a baronet and a number of others with hereditary titles. Many of Fiona's titled clients are keen to have an heir to ensure that the title doesn't leave their bloodline or die out, she said. "I have one such gentleman getting married in June to another of my clients, a lovely art dealer, and they won't have a child until afterwards as an heir to his title must be born within wedlock." Since it was establishing in 2014, there have been 12 matches and five babies born, said Fiona. As you might expect, the chance to share your DNA with that of someone very wealthy doesn't come cheap. The joining fee is £10,000, but unlike other matchmaking sites, The Stork will do a background check that looks into income, property and even debts. "It's important that both partners are in a good position to support any child they may have," said Fiona.