The average person spends almost a decade of their lives in front of the TV, according to research.

The poll of 2,000 people identified an increase in people watching TV on their own with UK homes having an average of four different devices to watch programmes on.

It found the average person clocks up nine-and-a-half years of TV watching in a lifetime.

Almost a fifth (19 per cent) said they watched TV at work, while more than a third (37 per cent) admitted to eating at least one meal in front of the box every day.

It also found an emerging generation gap in viewing habits as well with more than a third (37 per cent) of 18 to 24-year-olds preferring to watch TV on tablets, mobiles or laptops as opposed to the national average of 15per cent.

The survey was carried out on behalf of a on demand TV firm.