PEOPLE in Ealing are more likely to turn up the heating for visitors than their partner or children.

Four in ten questioned will raise the thermostat for visiting parents or friends, compared to one third who would do the same for the family members with whom they share their home.

A survey of 2,000 people by CORGI HomePlan has revealed exactly who we roll out the red carpet for and why.

It seems women want to go the extra mile for house guests, with almost half (48%) saying they prioritise visitors when it comes to central heating, compared to 36% of men.

An extravagant one in three people even ensures the heating is on constantly for the duration of a guest’s visit.

Middle-aged Ealing residents, aged 35-44, are the most likely to want to look after their parents when they visit and ensure they are warm enough, with 57% revealing that’s their top priority.

For those aged 25-34, it is grandparents who receive the most special treatment (35%).

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It’s not just humans who get a warm welcome, though. One in five people aged 18-24 in Ealing admit they are more likely to ensure the comfort and warmth of a pet over a human.

The reasons why we  make the effort is overwhelmingly because we want our guests to be comfortable (73%), or if we know they feel the cold (51%). One in four admitted, however, it is to protect their own reputation as a host.

For more senior people, aged 55 and over, the most common motivating factor in making a guest feel toasty is to ensure he or she comes back again soon (13%).

There are a host of other ways that we can make family and friends feel comfortable in cold weather - and men are a lot more attentive to their partners than women when it comes to providing the little extras.

More men revealed they make their partner an early morning cuppa than women (39% v 33%). More men heat the car for their other halves than women (23% v 16%) and more men slip a hot water bottle between the covers on a cold night than women (16% v 13%).

Peter Southcott, chief executive of CORGI HomePlan, says: “A warm house equals a warm welcome - that is clear from the findings of our research. Turning up the heating is the equivalent of rolling out the red carpet.

 “No one wants to have to wear an extra layer when visiting a friend or relative. These are the impressions that last. How well we treat a guest is a real reflection on ourselves.”