26 January,2013 12:36 PM IST | | ANI
Global sales of vibrators and other sex toys soared to 5.5 billion pound-a-year and are to set to rise to 40 billion pounds by 2020 - matching those of smartphones.
But, the survey revealed, one town in Britain spends four times the national average - 62 pence per head - on erotic accessories.
Voted the best place to live in Britain in a poll by the Halifax bank, Fleet, in Hampshire, was top of the table for spending on sex toys.
It was closely followed by Didcot in Oxfordshire, Godalming in Surrey and Basingstoke in Hampshire, a major newspaper reported.
Co-owner of Lovehoney Neal Slateford, a former record producer for Kylie Minogue, who carry out the survey, said celebrities opening up about their sex lives had been a key sales driver.
"A famous celebrity will give a big interview about their sex life or their love of sex toys and we will see a flurry of sales afterwards," the Daily Mail quoted Slateford as saying.
"It all started with Sex In The City - which was incredibly liberating for women, especially after Charlotte became a virtual recluse after buying a rabbit vibrator at New York's famous Pleasure Chest sex store," he added.
Channel 4 is reflecting the trend with an hour-long documentary on Tuesday night called âMore Sex Please, We're British' about the online sex toy retailer, Lovehoney.
According to the counselling service, women are becoming far less shy about sexual aids, which is only increased by celebrities being more open about their sex lives.
Asked for her favourite, Oscar winner Gwyneth Paltrow, 39, wife of Coldplay singer Chris Martin, said: "I'm down with all of them."
Zoe Saldana, 33, star of âAvatar' and âPirates of the Caribbean', said: "I like missionary and I like being on my knees too. And I love being on top or standing up."
âDesperate Housewives' star Eva Longoria, 37, revealed that some of the best sex she had ever experienced was with a sex toy.
