Has the downturn given our sex lives an uplift?

Who said nothing in London is free? One of life's greatest pleasures won't cost you a penny (unless you are in Soho) and can keep you happily entertained every night of the week.

The news is that sales of erotic lingerie are up as couples give up on the stock market and invest cash in spicing up their relationships instead.

It looks as if the recession, rather than getting Londoners to tighten their belts, is tempting them to undo those belts, whip them off and throw them on the floor in a fit of passion.

We went to the Royal Exchange to ask City workers whether they think Londoners are having more sex in these straitened times.

NO
John, 32, banker
"In the last recession I was single, now I'm married. It's going from being single to having a long-term relationship that changes the amount of sex you have — and it reduces."

YES
Neil, 23, finance analyst
"I'm definitely having more sex. There's less work in the industry so I can leave earlier in the day and get the chance to go to more bars."

NO
Jon, 25, personal trainer
"I think it's quite the opposite. A lot of people are stressed out and worried, so sex is not on the agenda."

YES
Victoria, 27, lawyer
"People aren't going for sensible dinners, they just drink instead and it leads on to other things. My sex life hasn't really changed but other people I know are definitely having more sex."

NO
Felix, 30, restaurant worker
"I had more sex before I moved to London from Leeds three years ago. Girls in London expect more. They want security and a future. It's more a London attitude than the recession."

NO
Ken, 35, IT manager
"I'm married, so I generally never have sex really. Unfortunately it hasn't happened for me. I'm too busy doing other things, like DIY."