On average we all spend at least a third of our lives in bed!

That means that in a typical life 25 years or more than a quarter of a century is spent under the covers and that is a very long time - like waking up today after a sleep that began in 1981.

Fortunately, the importance of sleep is well understood by Bed City in New Road, Kidderminster, who have been looking after the nocturnal needs of people in North Worcestershire for 15 years. The company is an independent family owned business with a reputation that has won customers throughout Worcestershire and beyond into Herefordshire and the Welsh Borders.

"Getting a good nights rest is essential for our well-being and not getting good quality sleep means that people are not refreshed and can result in problems such a backache and other physical problems," said Vivienne Carter, a director with the business.

Given the importance of getting quality "shut eye" it is amazing how little time and money we spend on beds compared with the effort spent on buying things like cars and holidays that only consume a small fraction of our time compared with sleep.

"We pride ourselves on being able to cater for all sleep needs and have a bed for sale to suit a variety of tastes and budgets," added Viv.

Bed City has more than 170 different beds and mattresses on display from all over the world with prices ranging from £59 to more than £5,000.

The makes on sale include names such as Silentnight, Sealy, Dunlopillo, Tempur,

Vi-spring as well as the Willis Gambier range of bedroom furniture (to name but a few!)

Customers are invited to try out as many beds as they like and can also take advantage of the "space cabin" that guides customers through the manufacturing process of a Tempur bed, the revolutionary NASA approved memory foam.

Bed City also sells the Vispring range of beds considered to be the Rolls Royce of beds. They are all hand made in the UK and offer the choice of a soft, medium, or firm mattress along with a choice of cover options.

For people who want to splash out there is the option of a waterbed, which can be good fun and very comfortable, and also a choice of "electric beds."

"An electric bed enables the sleeper to select a position to suite their needs. Using a remote control device the angle of the foot or the head of the bed can be changed at the press of a button. This can be especially useful for people who want help in sitting up after a rest," added Viv.

A good bed should last at least 10 years and that means more than 3,600 nights sleep equating to nearly 30,000 hours so it is worth spending a bit of time and care selecting something that will take up more than three years of your life.

"Our staff are experts and regularly receive in-store training and factory visits so they are able to offer good advice. We encourage people to try out the beds and to take their time. At Bed City we promise a hassle free experience with sales people on hand when needed but no one is going to be rushed or pressurised," said Viv.

In recognition that buying a bed can take time Bed City has its own coffee area where customers can relax.

The showroom is on two floors and there is car parking to add to the convenience. A large stock is carried and delivery of stock items can often be arranged within days.

Bed City is open Monday to Saturday between 9am and 5.30pm and every Sunday between 10.30am and 4pm. Telephone 01562 66396.