Oxford University scientists have created a series of body maps that show just where we are comfortable to be touched.

The 'touchability index' provides colour-coded information for everyone from our nearest and dearest to extended family, casual acquaintances and complete strangers.

Not surprisingly, the study of five European countries found that buttoned-up Britons were the least touchy-feely.

It also showed - again, unsurprisingly - that the less we know someone, the less comfortable we are to be touched by them.

However, there was one noticeable exception.

Men, it seems, have no areas which would be completely off limits to a touch from a total stranger - as long as the stranger is a woman.

Almost 1,500 men and women from Britain, Finland, France, Italy and Russia were given a series of outlines of the human body and asked to colour in which parts they would allow someone to touch, front and back.

Each person created touchability maps for 13 members of their social network, including their partner, their parents, their siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins and acquaintances.

They also coloured in two more shapes, one for a stranger of each sex.

In general the closer the relationship, the fewer areas of the body that were taboo, although people tended to be uncomfortable about letting anyone except their nearest and dearest touch their erogenous zones.

Interestingly, the men studied had a different viewpoint.

They didn't want another man touching them, with even the head and the feet no-go zones.

 However, almost the entire male body was up for grabs to a female stranger or acquaintance, with no part considered taboo.