Researchers from home appliance retailer Haier have looked at British families shopping and food storage habits - and found that we are throwing out £32.1 million of uneaten food every week.

This was particularly high in the South West where nearly a quarter (24 per cent) of households admitted to throwing away untouched food on a weekly basis, with the average value of food thrown out emerging as £4.50 per family, per week.

According to the study, the average family in the South West disposes of two items of food a week, wasting almost £234 a year.