We’re a nation of self-confessed curtain twitchers, with one in three Britons admitting to spying on their neighbours.

And while 30% have their nose to the glass, others have gone to great lengths to get wind of any nearby drama: 27% admit to having turned the TV or radio down to properly tune into an argument while 21% have opened a window specifically to hear more of a conversation.

New research from Anglian Home Improvements reveals that 11% of people think cupping an ear to wall for enhanced clarity is totally fine, while 5% take things a step further and use an empty glass.

12% think nothing of stepping out in their dressing gown if there’s something going on in the street, and 15% confessed to having peeped over the fence when there’s been a barbecue in action nearby.

Some will stop at nothing to get an eyeful of any interesting goings on, with 9% accepting a parcel for an absent neighbour – then taking a sneaky peek inside – and 5% snooping when they should have been feeding pets or watering plants.

3% like to have a nosey through their neighbour’s mail and 2% go a step further, looking through their letterbox when they’re on their hols.

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The Welsh are the nosiest of lot, with Cardiff identified as the UK’s main nosey neighbour hotspot.

Britain’s nosiest neighbours

1. Cardiff
2. Norwich
3. Nottingham
4. Liverpool
5. Sheffield
6. Plymouth
7. Newcastle
8. Brighton
9. Birmingham
10. Belfast

Nearly a quarter (23%) of UK adults consider their neighbours to be good friends, while 60% say they’re simply ‘people they talk to from time to time’.

One in 10 said they didn’t know any of their neighbours and one in 20 claimed they couldn’t stand them.

Over a third (35%) said they were often envious of their neighbours’ home improvements, with new cars and new kitchens the most common things to be jealous of.

A spokesperson for Anglian Home Improvements who commissioned the poll of 1,000 people said: “It’s only natural to have a look out of the window if you see something going on in your neighbourhood and to take an interest when someone is having work done to their house.

“Although it may seem annoying to have neighbours who curtain twitch, having nearby residents who know your movements can actually be a blessing when it comes to home security, so it’s actually not all bad!”