Single bed size falls out of family favour in Shropshire
When it comes to bedtime more and more children in Shropshire are demanding a double bed as sales see something of a boom.
Sales of single beds have dropped nine per cent in the past four years, according to market researchers.
As the 3ft single beds become less popular with youngsters, the bigger 4ft 6ins double beds have become more popular than ever.
Unsurprisingly, double duvet sets have also seen a surge in sales, especially those sporting childrens' patterns such as Hello Kitty.
It seems children are wanting more space and comfort and retailers in the county are already spotting the difference in their sales.
Staff at Wellington furniture shop Stubleys Warehouse, which has been at its Church Street site since 1981, have certainly seen a difference.
Mark Stubley, who runs the family business, said: "Kids do seem to spend more time in their bedrooms these days and we have noticed that we are selling more doubles. We see more children coming in with their parents and their first choice is to have a double, if they have the space, of course.
"The kids these days do seem to all want doubles when they come in, even king sizes sometimes."
Youngsters in Telford also like their comforts.
Sales of double beds have also increased at Furniture Village, at Telford's Forge Retail Park.
Phil Baxter, sales manager, said: "We are getting in more and more people asking for three quarter and double beds for their children.
"I suppose it is the children demanding it, it's the only thing I can put it down to.
They do not want a single bed, they want more room for sleepovers and stuff like that.
"Children spend more and more time in their bedrooms rather than with their parents in the lounge and they are wanting more comfort.
"It's just the trend at the moment and we are seeing an increase in sales of bigger beds."
Scott Sheffield, spokesman for the County Sleep Shop, in Wyle Cop, Shrewsbury, said: "We have not noticeably seen an increase in sales and children still tend to choose single beds, but we have sold quite a few three quarter beds and the odd double, but not too many."