A new poll has revealed what Cumbrian residents are really doing when they head to the loo.

From internet dating to escaping from chores, people in Cumbria are flocking to their save have, the toilet.

A poll by water firm, United Utilities, shows people are doing a lot more than their business in the bathroom.

More than a fifth, 22 per cent, of people in Cumbria admitted using the littlest room to get away from family or housemates, with one in 10, 10 per cent, using the loo as an excuse to get out of doing a chore.

Some people are also swiping rather than wiping, with several admitting to using dating apps in the toilet.

Other activities including meditating, 10 per cent, catching up on social media, 15 per cent, and taking phone calls, 9 per cent..

The survey in Cumbria was carried out to uncover the problem of leaky loos, which costs the UK a staggering 397 million litres of lost water every day – enough to supply an extra 2.8 million people.

The problem is that with modern toilets it’s not very obvious it's leaking until you get your bill.

That’s bad news for the environment and household budgets. If you’re on a meter, a single leaky loo could cost up to an extra £400 a year on your water bill – money that is literally going down the drain.

TV psychologist and two times UK Dating Expert of the Year, Jo Hemmings said: “These findings from United Utilities show how much Brits value their loo – and how versatile the room can be. From meditating to escapism or looking for love, the loo represents a unique form of privacy so it’s no surprise it’s the ultimate spot to find a bit of peace from family and housemates”

Emma McCabe, water efficiency manager at United Utilities, said: “With people being at home more often, now is a great opportunity for people in Cumbria to check their loos for any signs of a leak.”

Former UK Plumber of the Year Drew Styles, from Wigan, is also helping get the message out that fixing leaks loos is good for your pocket and the planet.

As United Utilities’ leaky loo ambassador, Drew will be featuring in series of videos to help explain to people in Cumbria what leaky loo signs to look out for and why we should be getting our loos fixed.

Drew said: “Leaking loos are a really common problem, but they are usually pretty easy to fix for a trained professional. Most of the time I can even get them fixed on my first visit and help stop my customers from losing water straightaway.”

Here are Drew’s top signs to look out for to check if you’ve got a leaky loo:

  • Listen out for a constant trickling noise from your loo
  • Look to see if you can spot water rippling on the surface
  • Check your water bills – leaky loos lose between 215 and 400 litres a day, which is equal to having five or more extra people in your house. If you’re on a water meter and you have a leaky loo you might find you have an unusually high water bill