Notting Hill, a seed-eating hippy enclave

NOTTING HILL residents eat the most seeds and use the least deodorant and shower gel in the country, according to a "map" of shopping habits.

The apparent existence of a hippy enclave in west London is revealed in an analysis of shopping baskets by the capital's largest online grocer, Ocado. The research also reveals the unhealthy diets of those living in east London, which is home to the highest proportion of beer drinkers and the lowest proportion of apple eaters.

On average 42 per cent of people across the country buy apples, compared with 35 per cent in east London.

Some 14 per cent of shoppers put beer in their baskets, whereas in north London that drops to 11 per cent, the lowest figure. However, the survey of 180,000 customers suggests north Londoners have the cleanest kitchens. They bought the most washing-up liquid and kitchen cleaner of any area.

South London's reputation for being popular with young parents is confirmed by the revelation that more customers there buy nappies than anywhere else, at 18 per cent.

The capital as a whole appears to have some of the healthiest eating habits. Londoners buy half the national average of ready-made curries, cake and gammon and drink half the amount of spirits.

Londoners also eat three times fewer chips than shoppers in Birmingham.