York women spend an average £88,156 on clothes in a shopping lifetime, apparently.

From the age of 14, York women splash out an average of £113 a month on shoes, clothes and accessories - whereas women in Leeds spend £122 a month, according to a new survey.

With a life expectancy of 79 years, that's a whopping 65 years spent scouring the high street for the latest designs and fashion accessories.

The poll of 3023 UK women was conducted by Churchill Home Insurance as part of an ongoing study of the value of the nation's home contents.

Despite women in York estimating their wardrobe at around £1,737, they claim they wear only 40 per cent of the clothes they own.

A further nine out of ten women in York say they have items in their wardrobe that they simply never wear.

The study also reveals that this level of shopping can lead to a guilty conscience.

A quarter of women in York said that they felt that they had to conceal new purchases from their partners or even lie about the cost.

Media psychotherapist and life coach Christine Webber said: "Shopping is not the sole preserve of the female, but it is certainly true that they shop more on impulse than men do.

They also spend in a bid to cheer themselves up or to boost their self-esteem.

So, it's easy to see why clothes, make-up and shoes are among their top buys."

Updated: 15:39 Friday, January 28, 2005