What your sleep reveals

How you sleep at night has as much to do with personality as comfort, it seems.

Most people curl up in a foetal position when they nod off which, according to psychologists, shows they are tough on the outside but sensitive on the inside.

Twice as many women as men tend to adopt the position, research shows.

Others follow the advice of The Beatles and, after a hard day's night, sleep like a log - literally ramrod straight with their arms by their side.

Other positions include the Freefaller, who lies on his or her front with arms above the head.

Men often opt for the Yearner position - lying on their side with arms out in front.

Sleep analyst Prof Chris Idzikowski found six main positions, with variations such as one arm hanging out of the bed.

But each also had direct links to the sleeper's personality.

'We are all aware of our body language when we are awake but this is the first time we have been able to see what our subconscious posture says about us,' said Prof Idzikowski, who studied a poll of 1,000 guests by hotel chain Travel Inn.

'What's interesting is that the profile behind the posture is often very different from what we would expect.

'Freefallers, for example, are actually hiding a more reserved side to their personality despite occupying a large amount of the bed.'

Eight per cent of sleepers cannot decide on any position and spend the night tossing and turning until they are comfortable.