Marlborough residents spend more than people in any other town in Wiltshire buying goods for their home comfort says a study.

The town is eighth on the national list for the amount per head spent on home shopping, according to analysis released by retail consultants Experian.

The average Marlburian spent £98.43 on goods bought through catalogues or over the Internet. The highest in the land was Sunningdale in Berkshire with £137 per head.

Malmesbury comes a lowly 31st with £80.83 and Devizes is in 81st place with just £67.72 per head.

Experian suggests that three factors are influencing home shopping: the desire to avoid crowds in the high street, the number of households with broadband connection to the Internet and what is called the Tesco effect, integrated online and offline marketing, with goods delivered straight to your door.