Britain now has 7 social classes British people no longer fit into three social classes, with only one in seven in the "traditional working class," a new study has suggested. The UK also has an "elite" - just 6 per cent of the population - who have savings of more than £140,000, extensive social contacts and education at top universities, according to the BBC's online Great British Class Survey. More than 160,000 respondents took part in the survey, the largest ever of its kind in the UK, the BBC said. Researchers found the established model of an upper class, middle class and working class has "fragmented" and there are now seven classes ranging from the "elite" to the "precariat." Representing 15 per cent of the population, the "precariat" earn just £8,000 after tax, have average savings of £800, with fewer than one in 30 gaining a university education. Professor Mike Savage, of the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), carried out the research with Professor Fiona Devine, of the University of Manchester, with the help of BBC Lab UK. Prof Savage said: "It is striking that we have been able to discern a distinctive elite, whose sheer economic advantage sets it apart from other classes. At the opposite extreme, we have discerned the existence of a sizeable group - 15 per cent of the population - which is marked by the lack of any significant amount of economic, cultural or social capital. The recognition of the existence of this group, along with the elite, is a powerful reminder that our conventional approaches to class have hindered our recognition of these two extremes, which occupy a very distinctive place in British society. Researchers found the "traditional working class" has fallen to just 14 per cent of the total population, and "is fading from contemporary importance." At one in four of the population, the "established middle class" is the largest group, with household income of £47,000 and some "highbrow" tastes. The "emergent service workers" are the sixth group and the youngest, with a mean age of 34 and high proportions of ethnic minorities. Prof Divine said: "It's what's in the middle which is really interesting and exciting. There's a much more fuzzy area between the traditional working class and traditional middle class. There's the emergent workers and the new affluent workers who are different groups of people who won't necessarily see themselves as working or middle class. The findings will be presented at a conference of the British Sociological Association today, and will be published in this month's Sociology Journal. Researchers analysed people's income, assets, social connections and social activities. The 7 new classes (according to the BBC Lab study): Elite - The most privileged class. High level of all three capitals (economic, cultural and social). Established middle class - High levels of all three capitals but not as high as Elite. Gregarious and culturally engaged Technical middle class - New, small class, with high economic capital but less culturally engaged. Relatively few social contacts. New affluent workers - Medium levels of economic, but higher levels of cultural and social capital. Young and active. Emergent service workers - New class with low economic but high 'emerging' cultural capital. High social capital. Young and often found in urban areas. Traditional working class - Low on all three capitals, but not the poorest. Older on average than other classes. Precariat, or precarious proletariat - Most deprived group, with low levels of all three capitals.