Britons are spending more money on DIY, often foregoing holidays or nights out to finance home improvement projects, a new survey revealed today.

Average spending has risen to almost £2,000 during the last four months, almost twice as much as on food.

The survey of 1,500 people for DIY giant Focus Wickes showed that spending on projects has increased by 13 per cent since last October.

Two thirds of those polled said they socialised in their own home more than they used to, with most people saying they wanted to improve their house because they fancied a new look rather than any desire to increase the value of a property.

One in 10 of those questioned had installed a new kitchen in the past few months and one in six had laid a new floor.

Scottish people spent the most on DIY during the past four months at just more than £3,000, compared with £1,000 for Londoners.