WE spend £550 to keep cool in the summer, according to to a new survey, which highlighted the 10 most popular ways to keep cool.

Research from cashback site TopCashback.co.uk found that uncomfortable summer days are costing consumers in the south-west up to £550 as they attempt to keep cool.

While 59 per cent of people say they are prevented from sleeping, more than a third (36 per cent) claim their productivity at work goes down due to a lack of concentration.

A further 16 per cent even become hot-headed as the heat makes them angry and frustrated.

Consumers turn to both immediate and longer-term solutions, spending £62 and £136 respectively.

And while energy bills increase by £66 over the summer due to electric fans and air conditioning units, seven per cent of us have even installed a swimming pool at home to keep cool.

Consumers reach for items such as plug-in electric fans (53 per cent), cooling sprays (16 per cent) and ice packs (14 per cent) while 13 per cent splash out on paddling pools.

And 59 per cent stock up on thinner duvets and 11 per cent on cooling pillows, the survey found.

Meawhile seven per cent of consumers have bought a plug-in air conditioning unit and eight per cent have installed a ceiling fan.

A similar number (seven per cent) have even gone to the length of having a swimming pool built at their home in the hope that a quick dip will refresh them.

Those who have plug-in and ceiling fans see an average increase of £32 in their electricity bills over summer, and those who have installed air conditioning systems or units see their bill jump up by £66.

But despite the increase in costs, 61 per cent of people are prepared for their bills to go up if it results in keeping the temperature down.

Consumers in the south west also spend £56 more a month on grooming and, perhaps in a bid to look cool rather than stay cool, shelling out on average, £153 on a new summer wardrobe.

Grocery bills also spike by £45 a month during the summer season as consumers opt for fresh, fancy salads over hearty, and often cheaper, warming meals.

Natasha Rachel Smith, consumer affairs editor for TopCashback.co.uk, said: “Feeling frustrated by sticky summers is causing people in the south-west to reach for quick fixes. Yet, those summer heat splurges may be frivolous.

"Our research shows more than a quarter of people in the south-west haven’t used the items they bought to keep cool because temperatures didn’t spike as they expected.

"Similarly, 17 per cent of people say they’ve purchased products on impulse and an equal number admit they often forget about the items they acquired.

“We always remind our members to be careful with their spending and take the time to think about the items they actually need and will use.

"Once consumers have decided on the products that work for them, there are often discounts, voucher codes and cashback deals to bring down costs.”

Consumers in the south west also listed their top 10 favourite ways to stay cool in the summer as:

1. Drinking a cold drink (88%)

2. Eating ice cream (67%)

3. Eating an ice lolly (50%)

4. Taking a cold shower (29%)

5. Getting a shorter haircut (16%)

6. Spraying water on face (13%)

7. Soaking feet in cold water (12%)

8. Using a paddling pool (7%)

9. Jumping in a swimming pool (6%)

10. Having a water fight (4%)

• The results are based on a survey answered by 204 adults in the south west in June.