Homeowners living on a road with a rude, silly or controversial street name are four times less likely to sell their property compared to those living on neighouring streets, new research suggests.

Britain's rudest roads include the likes of Crotch Crescent in Oxford, Dumb Womans Lane in Rye, Spanker Lane in Belper and Backside Lane in Doncaster.

Data from online estate agents HouseSimple shows that the number of house sales over the past 20 years on some of the UK’s more unusually named streets are up to four times lower than on adjoining streets with more conventional names.

For instance, house sales on Dumb Womans Lane have been few and far between since 1997, with four times fewer house sales than on neighbouring Station Road.

Spiders Lane and Lickers Lane have also had four times fewer property sales than on neighbouring streets Lime Grove and Parkwood Road, respectively.

The study found that there have been just five sales on Rats Lane since 1997, and four on Loveless Gardens.