The fridge is the most popular tool to send messages between family members.

More than 70 per cent of people say they prefer to rely on an old-fashioned note stuck to the fridge, where it is probably read sooner than an electronic message.

Nearly as many say the fridge is the first place their children look for messages, while more than half say this method of communication is quicker than using a computer or mobile phone.

The poll of 1,000 adults was carried out by electrical firm Comet.