Sex toy boom as cash-strapped couples look for indoor entertainment
The recession has led to a boost in the sales of sex toys as more and more couples opt for indoor fun with three-quarters of women in Britain now owning one.
Global sales of vibrators and other sex toys soared to £5.5billion-a-year and are to set to rise to £40billion by 2020 - matching those of smartphones.
But one town in Britain spends four times the national average - 62 pence per head - on erotic accessories according to analysis by an online sex shop.
Number one: Fleet in Hampshire had the highest purchases of sex toys - equating to 62 pence per head
Oldham in Lancashire had the fifth lowest spend on sex toys with just 17p per head
Voted the best place to live in Britain in a poll by the Halifax bank, Fleet, in Hampshire, was top of the table for spending on sex toys.
According to The Sunday Times, it was closely followed by Didcot in Oxfordshire, Godalming in Surrey and Basingstoke in Hampshire.
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Co-owner of Lovehoney Neal Slateford, a former record producer for Kylie Minogue, who carry out the survey, said celebrities opening up about their sex lives had been a key sales driver.
He said: 'A famous celebrity will give a big interview about their sex life or their love of sex toys and we will see a flurry of sales afterwards.
'It all started with Sex In The City - which was incredibly liberating for women, especially after Charlotte became a virtual recluse after buying a rabbit vibrator at New York's famous Pleasure Chest sex store.
Breaking boundaries: Sex and the City, starring Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon, has been accredited with ending taboos about sex
Bedroom secrets: Gwyneth Paltrow was quizzed about her favourite sex position by Amanda De Cadenet on her Lifetime show The Conversation
Actress Zoe Saldana, 33, admitted: 'I like missionary and I like being on my knees too. And I love being on top... I love doggy-style or standing up.'
'Suddenly ordinary women weren't afraid to talk about their sex lives and their use of sex toys.'
'It's great that celebrities are being more honest about their sex lives. There has been such a huge change in people's attitudes over the last 10 years.
'Now mainstream retailers like Boots, Tesco and Superdrug sell sex toys.
'Take a walk down the pharmacy aisle and you'll see vibrating penis rings and bullet vibrators alongside the condoms.'
Channel 4 is reflecting the trend with an hour-long documentary on Tuesday night called 'More Sex Please, We're British' about the online sex toy retailer, Lovehoney.
According to the counselling service Relate, women are becoming far less shy about sexual aids, which is only increased by celebrities being more open about their sex lives.
High street sex toys: A display of sexual aids on sale at Boots
High Street chain Ann Summers, is known for selling kinky lingerie and erotic toys
Several female celebrities talked openly about their favourite sexual positions in US TV interviews screened earlier this week.
CHEAP THRILLS: UK TOWNS SPLASH OUT ON SEX TOYS
Top five towns buying sex toys (spending broken down per head):
1. Fleet (62p per head)
2. Didcot ( 59p per head)
3. Godalming (58p per head)
4. Basingstoke (58p per head)
5. Aberystwyth (57p per head)
Bottom five towns buying sex toys (spending broken down per head):
1. Sunderland (10p per head)
2. Bedford ( 13p per head)
3. Blackburn (14p per head)
4. Rotherham (15p per head)
5. Oldham (17p per head)
Asked for her favourite, Oscar winner Gwyneth Paltrow, 39, wife of Coldplay singer Chris Martin, said: 'I'm down with all of them.'
Zoe Saldana, 33, star of Avatar and Pirates of the Caribbean, said: 'I like missionary and I like being on my knees too. And I love being on top or standing up.'
Meanwhile, the X Factor star Tulisa blushed when her rabbit vibrator accidentally went off in her suitcase when she was picking up her baggage at Miami airport.
Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria, 37, revealed that some of the best sex she had ever experienced was with a sex toy.
She said in an interview: 'I own two and I have a Rabbit one. I give that as a gift all the time. It's the best gift to give - an orgasm.'
Teri Hatcher, 47, also from Desperate Housewives, said: 'To be honest, I don't know what I want a male for. I have some fabulous electronics to use instead. And any woman who tells you she doesn't is lying.'
Myleene Klass, 34, is another vibrator enthusiast - buying them for showbiz pals such as Suzanne Shaw, who she sang with her in the band Hear'Say.
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