Northerners drink more tea than people in the South, although a Welsh town has been named the tea-drinking capital of the UK.

A study by Tetley found that most residents in Wrexham, North Wales, drink tea seven days a week, 365 days a year, whatever the weather.

One in five people in Newcastle and Wolverhampton drink up to 12 cuppas a day, while a similar number of Londoners favour green tea, the poll of 2,000 adults found.

Around 15% of people in Southampton, and one in four in Gloucester only drink one cup of tea a day.

A huge contrast was revealed over taking sugar in tea, with 70% of people in Aberystwyth having at least one teaspoon, while nine out of 10 residents in Brighton taking it without.

Tetley marketing director Amy Holdsworth said: ''The study highlights how tea is so much more than just a hot drink - it really is the lifeblood of Britain.''

The report follows a guide published by the British Standards Institution (BSI) on how to make a perfect brew, suggesting milk must be poured into the cup before the tea, which should be brewed for six minutes.