A survey of 1,500 people in the UK has shown 9% of people keep unhealthy snacks in their sheds, while 8% hide cigarettes.

The top ten most unusual items kept in sheds, complied by Shed of the Year sponsors Cuprinol, are:

1 Relatives' ashes

2 Human skeleton

3 Camel's head

4 Stuffed alligator

5 Old breast implants

6 Photographs of an ex-partner

7 Tattoo gun

8 Badger's skull

9 A grave stone

10 Wisdom teeth

Regional shed habits also show:

* 17% of Londoners keep a TV in their shed compared with just 4% of those who live in the North East

* 19% of Londoners prefer to spend time in their shed than with their partner compared with just 2% of Yorkshire residents

* 26% of Londoners have spent time in their shed to think about their relationship problems compared with just 4% of Welsh

* 35% of those who live in the North West claim that spending time in their shed lifts their mood compared with 20% of those who live in the East Midlands

* The Northern Irish are the biggest spenders purchasing the most expensive sheds (£478.70) and spend the most on doing up their shed (£180) compared with East Midlanders who spend the least at £188.85 per shed and only £57 doing it up.

:: The Northern Irish spend the most on their sheds (£658.70), East Midlanders spend the least (£246)

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