July named as grumpiest month for Britons

Despite the sunny weather, July is the grumpiest month for Britons as they battle with sleep deprivation and fraying tempers in the heat, a survey suggested today.

According to a poll of 6,000 adults, lack of sleep during the hot humid nights was taking its toll, with 78% of respondents admitting they were moodier in July than any other month.

Approximately 88% revealed they lost sleep every night, with two hours being the average amount lost.

Some 70% of parents said they were woken up at least three times a night by children struggling in the heat.

The survey conducted by Travelodge also found one in two (49%) drivers travelling in the heat would shout at another motorist out of frustration.

One in four said they would use bad language, 40% would employ rude gestures and one in five would tailgate another driver.

More than a quarter (27%) of commuters said they would shout at a partner or child while travelling in hot conditions.

The heat also raised tensions in the office, with 45% of workers admitting they took their grumpiness out on colleagues in the heat.

Hot conditions also raised health problems, with 40% suffering sunburn, one in five being laid low by hay fever or worsening asthma and 15% suffering heat-related migraines.

Just over 80% also admitted to getting fed up in July because they were too ashamed of their bodies to strip off and soak up the sun.

Leigh McCarron, Travelodge sleep director, said: "We wait all year for the hot weather, but when it arrives, most of us aren't prepared.

"We lose valuable hours of sleep and everything goes downhill from there. The lack of sleep makes us irritable, that combined with soaring temperatures in the day make many of us quite tense. We like the heat - but it takes us time to get used to it."