A new study published by delivery firm, Hermes, has looked at the way that consumers from across the UK shop online from their portable gadgets to indulge in some retail therapy in places you might not expect. Almost half of respondents from the UK admitted they had made purchases while sitting on the toilet.

In addition, 80 per cent of the Brits questioned said that they shop online while they are in bed, which is much higher than the 58 per cent of Germans who took part in the survey, who admitted indulging in the same night time practice.

Close to two thirds of people from the UK said that they have shopped online while at work, which is an activity that becomes much more common as Christmas approaches. This compares with the 49 per cent of continental consumers who admitted to using e-commerce sites while in the office.

When it comes to the truly outlandish places to carry out safe shopping online, consumers cited a number of weird locations, including at a wedding, while on a rollercoaster and from the viewing gallery at the peak of the Eifel Tower in Paris.

Report spokesperson, Mark Pettit, said that shoppers from the UK were clearly more adventurous in their online activities than their European equivalents, driven to make purchases in more and more places, thanks to the proliferation of smartphones and tablets.

Sixty three per cent of Brits said that they use mobile devices to shop online regularly, which is again higher than their contemporaries in France and Germany. And while it is definitely convenient for people to be able to look for bargains in almost any scenario, perhaps there are some places that should remain a social taboo.