Could the position you sleep in give away if you've cheated on your other half?

According to new research, unfaithful partners who have secretly strayed reveal tell-tale signs in the way they snuggle up at night.

The most popular sleep position according to the poll - adopted by 34 per cent of couples - is one known as 'The Separation'; where partners will sleep facing apart with a space in-between.

While this can indicate couples in a secure relationship who don't feel the need to show affection in their sleeping posture, it is also the most popular position when one partner is being unfaithful.

The most popular sleep position - adopted by 34 per cent of couples - is one known as 'The Separation'; where partners will sleep facing apart with a space in-between. But it could also indicate your partner has been unfaithful

That is because the adulterer is wary of getting too close to their spouse in bed in case giveaway signs of cheating, such as the smell of another person's perfume or aftershave, are evident.

IllicitEncounters.com sex and relationship expert Jessica Leoni said the research gives us an intimate guide to the health of peoples' relationships and sex lives.

'When we sleep, our subconscious minds take over, so the body language we use with a partner can be a precise gauge of what is going on in a relationship,' she explained.

'Couples tend to be quite intimate in how they sleep when they first get together and then gradually drift apart in bed over time.

The second most popular sleep position in the survey was the 'Back Kisser' - used by 22 per cent of couples. It's considered more intimate than the Separation and popular among secure couples

The third most popular position is the Spoon - this is by far the most popular position for couples in new relationships but less favoured by those in long-term relationships as it doesn't make for very comfortable sleeping

'This is not necessarily a bad thing - if the relationship is secure you should not need to prove your intimacy by adopting sleep positions which are uncomfortable and make it impossible to drop off.

'The one red flag for anyone should be if you normally share a quite intimate sleeping position with your partner and then they suddenly switch to the Separation position.

'This is a sign that they are up to no good and are worried that signs of their betrayal are evident on their body or they are thinking about another person and spurning intimacy with you.

The fourth most popular position is the Space Hog - picked by 14 per cent of respondents - where one partner, typically the male, hogs a large part of the bed. This is more popular among couples who have been together a long time - but is bound to leave one partner feeling hard done by

'Other signs to look out for are them showering or cleaning their teeth as soon as they come in.'

The second most popular sleep position in the survey was the 'Back Kisser' - used by 22 per cent of couples.

They again sleep with their backs facing each other but maintain greater intimacy than the Separation by touching backs and sometimes maintaining contact through their feet.

The fifth most popular position was the Nuzzle - another position popular among new lovers due to its intimacy but only used by eight per cent of couples in settled relationships as it makes it more difficult to sleep

Tangled is the sixth most popular position, where both bodies are completely entwined. This is popular with new lovers but used by only six per cent of couples in long-term relationships due to it causing difficulty sleeping

The third most popular position is the Spoon - this is by far the most popular position for couples in new relationships with almost half (48 per cent) saying they use it when they first make love.

However, only 16 per cent of couples use it when they are in an established relationship because of difficulty sleeping.

The six most popular sleep positions for couples The Separation (34 per cent) Back Kissers (22 per cent) Spoon (16 per cent) Space Hog (14 per cent) Nuzzle (8 per cent) Tangled (6 per cent)

The fourth most popular position is the Space Hog - picked by 14 per cent of respondents.

This is where one partner, typically the male, hogs a large part of the bed and their partner has to accommodate them.

The most popular sleeping positions were revealed in a new poll of 2,000 people, split evenly across the sexes, by IllicitEncounters.com -a UK dating website for married people.

The fifth most popular position was the Nuzzle - another position for new lovers which is only used by eight per cent of couples in settled relationships. The couple is close and the female rests her head on his chest.

Tangled is the sixth most popular position, where both bodies are completely entwined - popular with new lovers but used by only six per cent of couples in long-term relationships due to difficulty sleeping.