Brits are putting hot potatoes in their pockets to stay warm this winter

Brits have revealed their unusual methods for keeping warm during winter including pre-heating clothes, eating spicy foods – and using a pet as a ‘personal heater’.

Overall, eight in ten turn to comfort food to help keep the warm, but many have adopted other -rather unique- methods.

These methods include stuffing newspapers or cardboard into clothes or putting a hot jacket potato in their pocket. Others work with their laptop on their lap to get the heat from the device.

Others get into bed with their partner to create body heat and 12% build a blanket fort to keep off the cold, while 13% will dance around to get the blood moving.

Yet, according to the survey, 21% of people who have quirky methods for beating the cold, keep them ‘secret’ in case other people find them odd.

The research was commissioned by PepsiCo, which is launching a limited edition Extra Flamin’ Hot Walkers Crisps and an online store – ‘Temp Drop Shop’ –

The store will be dropping spicy collabs with UpCircle lip balm, Ginsters sausage rolls, and Doughlicious cookie dough & gelato bites. But you can only order from 29th January after 4pm.

Rob Pothier, spokesperson for Extra Flamin’ Hot said: “Nobody likes the start of the year.It’s dark, gloomy and cold, so it’s no wonder Brits are using quirky techniques to stay warm.

“That’s why we wanted to bring the heat the best way we could – for anyone looking to spice up their winter in completely unexpected ways.”

Almost four in 10 (39%) believe that eating something spicy is a good way to warm up the body – like curry (30%), a pot of instant noodles (14%) and even a chilli pepper on its own.

And 21% of spice lovers wish some blander foods had a bit more ‘zing’ – with the top meals they’d fire up being spaghetti bolognese (29%), chips (28%) and sausage rolls (25%).