THE region's toilet habits have been revealed in a nationwide survey, which asked about bathroom etiquette and what to do if the loo roll runs out.

According to research by OnePoll.com and measurebowelhealth.com, people in the south east mostly 'think, look at their phone, and read a book' on the loo.

And if caught without toilet paper in a public cubicle, 25 per cent say they would ask a stranger to hand them some, 22 per cent would 'waddle to the next cubicle with their trousers down', and 20 per cent would 'use a receipt or scrap of paper', the study claims.

62 per cent of local respondents said that they never take their phone to the toilet.

The study of 2,000 adults suggests Brits spend the equivalent of eight months of their adult life sat on the toilet.

Researchers said most people in the country make eight trips to the toilet each day, totalling two hours per week.

Nationwide, the study claims 65 per cent of men said it was unacceptable for another man to use the urinal next to them if others were free, while more than six in 10 adults have been embarrassed after entering a bathroom where the previous user left a ghastly smell – only to open the door afterwards and find someone else waiting to go in.

The survey was commissioned to promote the relaunch of Measure, a home test kit for bowel cancer.

Research has shown that increasing numbers of 20-30 year olds are being killed by bowel cancer.