ABERYSTWYTH has been named as the most hug-friendly place in the UK.

Residents give out an average of more than three cuddles a day to friends, relatives, and work colleagues.

Also in the top ten were Aberdeen, Portsmouth, Worcester, Bristol, Plymouth and Birmingham.

The least likely place to get a hug was found to be Coventry where people could only expect one embrace a day.

The polll by holiday company Center Parcs also found six in ten people consider themselves to be "touchy feely" and affectionate, with the average UK adult giving just under three hugs a day.

Colin Whaley, sales and marketing director at Center Parcs, said: "Britain may have a reputation for having a stiff-upper lip but the results suggest some British people are actually really affectionate and quite willing to express their feelings.

"Hugging fulfils a basic human need - even the least affectionate among us would struggle to feel better after a good hug.

"For those of us who don’t give or receive hugs all that often, perhaps Aberystwyth can inspire the rest of the UK to follow its lead."

The poll of 2,000 adults also found people are most receptive to a hug at 4.16pm and "need" three hugs a day but usually only receive just two.

Eight in 10 hug their family and nearly seven in 10 hug their friends, while one in 10 admit to never hugging anyone.

Fewer than half of people said they hug their parents - although two thirds of people in York cuddle their mums and dads.