Watch: We asked couples across Bridgnorth when is the right time to turn the heating off - this is what they had to say

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It's a debate which has divided households over the years, with new research showing that couples are likely to argue an average of six times a week about when the heating should be switched off.

The research, which was commissioned by Worcester Bosch and conducted by Perspectus Global during March, showed that 75 per cent of households across the West Midlands had a difference of opinion about it.

Additionally, 26 per cent were arguing more about it due to rising energy bills, while seven per cent said it was more of a bone of contention than money, and 16 percent of couples said that heating is the number one battleground at home.

While the weather for shoppers in Bridgnorth on a Friday lunchtime was warm and sunny, there was still a cool wind blowing across the town and shoppers of all ages could be seen walking with coats on.

Despite a mini-heatwave predicted to be on its way, the topic of when to turn the heating off was one still be debated by people, with Sophina Hounslow from Stourbridge saying that she and her husband Jonathan both had different thoughts on when the heating should go off.

She said: "My view is it should go off when it gets hot, but you never know what it's going to be like month to month with British weather being what it's like at the moment.

"We tend to turn it off when the weather gets hot and my husband like to go by months, so he'll go by springtime being the time the heating should go off, but I think it's still too cold, so I'll still put it back on.

"We do argue about it and I think there can be times when we wake up in the morning and it can be that I'm cold and he's not, so I want to put it on and he doesn't, but I think the perfect time to do it is in the summer months, as spring can still be a bit cold."

While younger couples said they were more likely to argue about turning on the heating, some of the older couples shopping in Bridgnorth said they were more inclined to agree to disagree about the heating.

Florence and Tom Harding from Compton in Wolverhampton said they would occasionally disagree, but Florence said she would usually make the final decision about the heating.

She said: "We do occasionally have differences of opinion about it as he will say that it's too cold and I'll say that it's not, but I usually just end up switching the heating off.

"I think the right time to switch off the heating is usually when you're too hot, but not all the time as it can be cold on some mornings.

"However, I'm from Scotland, so I don't usually feel the cold that much and I'm used to it, so it's different for different people."

While a lot of couples have said they disagreed about the right time to turn off the heating, others said they were able to find a common ground for when to do it.

Christine and Dave Heseltine from Bridgnorth said they were more likely to agree about the right time than disagree and argue about it.

Christine said: "For us, it's more about when we turn it on as we'll ask each other if we think it's a bit cold and either decide that we're ok or whether we should put it on.

"We'll always discuss it, but I do see how people can argue about it when they are worried about money and it can be an issue for so many people."

Dave said: "It would have to be properly cold before we put it on and while, sometimes, I can't decide, I have a drink and then decide how I feel about it.

"Where we used to live, the house would have icicles on the inside of the windows as it was so cold in there, so I know how it can fray on the nerves when you're struggling to pay the electricity bill."