REVEALED: One in 10 households in the UK do not own a SINGLE book

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One in 10 homes in the UK do not have a single book in them

And among younger residents, the figure doubles to one in five homes bereft of any physical reading material, added the study.

Many only read online, via e-readers or a smartphone for instance, and the trend for declutter and minimalist furnishings suggest others do not want dusty old bookshelves spoiling the look.

Of course it means many miss out on the glossy pages of a coffee table tome or the imaginative covers of a potboiler paperback that older generations grew up with.

But it is not the only traditional household possession that is giving way to technology, said the report by insurer Aviva following a survey of nearly 1,800 British adults.

Playing solitaire on a screen or card games via online gambling sites, has led to an increase in the number of homes without a pack of playing cards or a set of dominoes, the poll found.

Aviva's Home Report shows 10 per cent of all homes have no books rising to 20 per cent of homes occupied solely by those aged 18-24.

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Among younger residents, the figure doubles

More than a third of all homes (34 per cent) do not have any board games, 27 per cent have no playing cards and 54 per cent do not own dominoes.

All these figures are significantly higher than a similar survey in 2006 where just 25 per cent had no board games, 21 per cent no cards and 44 per cent no dominoes, said Aviva.

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In five homes bereft of any physical reading material

But what has increased is the number of internet-enabled devices with an average of 8.2 per home from the desktop, laptop and tablet to smartphone, smart TV and connected games console.

Other devices include security cameras and remotely operated themostats and other items that fall under the category of 'the internet of things'.

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This rises to 10.9 devices per home where there are children, said the study.

Lindsey Rix, Aviva's MD for general insurance, said: "Our possessions are changing as the world advances, with traditional pastimes often making way for modern alternatives.

"Everyone's home is individual to them and there's no right or wrong when it comes to what people keep in them."

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