Research by online expert Conchango found 40.5% of residents in Cardiff and Swansea dabbled with buying porn on the internet.

Others with a penchant for erotica were the Glaswegians, at 37.5%, the Geordies, at 36.4%, and Brummies at 36.4%.

The survey questioned 1,000 consumers across the UK about their use of the internet.

Erotica was by far the most popular thing to buy online, over and above music downloads or groceries, with one in three people nationally using the internet to purchase pornography.

Mike Altendorf, of Conchango, said, "The figures show that the internet is not only a more convenient way to shop but it also affords us the privacy to fulfil our sexual fantasies.

"With only one in ten people willing to shop for porn on the high street it goes to show that when we're not using the internet to check our bank balance or book a holiday, we can use it to make the purchases we're too embarrassed to make in person."

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