Guilt-racked Britons are using their sheds to secrete unhealthy snacks and store love letters from old flames, a new survey has shown.
One in five shed owners admits to spending time in out-buildings to avoid their partners while 8% would rather hide away in their shed than be intimate with their partner.
Britons love their sheds so much that the average person spends almost a year of their life in them.
New research by Cuprinol to mark the start of the annual Shed of the Year competition reveals more than 14 million people in the UK now owns a shed.
According to the study, 9% of shed owners in Britain use it to store secret unhealthy snacks, 8% hide cigarettes, 4% keep love letters from an ex-partner and 11% admit using their sheds to make secret phone calls.
The research also shows that many now see their sheds as an extension of the home with 35% featuring electricity, and 7% having a television.
The 10 oddest items uncovered in the survey were:
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 gravestone
10 Wisdom teeth
Kathryn Ledson, Cuprinol marketing manager, said: "It's clear the nation are fanatical about sheds and view it as an important extension of the home, with many using it as a secret getaway to store secrets or avoid loved ones.
"Whatever you use your shed for the annual Shed of the Year competition aims celebrates the best of British sheds and we'reproud to be the official sponsors for the fourth year running."
The competition celebrates the best of British sheds. Categories best garden office, summerhouse, eco-friendly constructions and "tardis".
Last year's winner was Alex Holland from Machynlleth in mid Wales for his boat roofed shed - a unique and beautifully crafted shed made from a recycled upturned boat for a roof and located at an altitude of 750ft above sea level in the Cambrian Mountain range.
People can enter their shed until May 5 at www.readershed.co.uk.
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