Brighton is third most sleep-deprived city in the country, study finds

The research analysed a range of factors including light pollution levels, sun hours and average temperatures across the country to establish which parts of England experience the lowest quality of sleep.

The WakeUpWell study by Blinds Direct also looked at people's working hours and the proportion of time they spend doing unpaid overtime.

Brighton's 160,000 workers aged between 16 and 64 were found to spend 20.5 per cent of their working hours doing unpaid overtime - second only to London's workforce, on 24.4 per cent.

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The city was found to experience 1,909 sun hours and has an average brightness value of 11, which indicates its light pollution score.

London was found to experience the most light pollution by far, with an average brightness value of 70.

High levels of light pollution disrupt our essential sleep-wake cycles, which can result in poor focus, impaired decision-making and an increased injury risk, according to the NHS.

Map source: Blinds Direct

Expert advice recommends controlling light exposure and following a strict routine, especially while working from home.

Sleep science coach Alex Savy said: “Try to get enough daylight by sitting near the window during work or taking walks whenever you can - even on a foggy day, it still might do you some good.

"Additionally, you might want to limit your screen time and, ideally, avoid taking devices to bed.

• READ MORE: Brighton comes joint second in list of most stressed out cities

“You can use a blue light filter in the evening for extra protection and dim the lights around the house a couple of hours before bedtime.”

Following a strict working from home bedtime routine is also key, and returning to the office could help improve sleep patterns, according to sleep psychologist Katharine Hall.

She said: "If you have been routinely waking up slightly later since working from home, you may find waking up slightly earlier more difficult.

"With more and more people working from home during the pandemic, the line between ‘work’ and ‘home’ has become a lot blurrier.

"This may have led to excessive time spent in front of your phone, delaying sleep and impacting sleep quality.

"However, returning to work could provide that much-needed barrier between work and home."