How Wii cause £20million worth of damage working out

But it can also be a health hazard - for your TV, your pets and particularly for any priceless vases that might be hanging around the house.

Women exercising at home cause up to £20million of damage to their possessions and themselves every year, a survey found yesterday.

The popularity of Nintendo's Wii Fit game has led to a surge in people exercising in their living rooms

The trend for working out in the living room has been driven by the launch of the Wii Fit programme for Nintendo's revolutionary games console.

It includes a pressure-sensitive balance board to help users improve their strength and fitness.

However, the console ran into trouble soon after it launched two years ago when it emerged that some of the wrist straps used to keep the motion-sensitive 'wands' on the players' wrists snapped under heavy use.

There were reports of the devices flying off - sometimes straight through the television set.

The latest survey, by female-oriented insurance company Sheilas' Wheels, found that two per cent of women had damaged their TV after getting a little carried away while burning calories.

Almost a fifth of women who exercise indoors have been involved in accidents the poll found. The most common-calamities include bumping into furniture (30 per cent) and pulling a muscle (19 per cent).

But an alarming number of women have been involved in more bizarre accidents - ranging from tripping over a pet (18 per cent) to banging their heads (13 per cent).

Vases are the most commonly damaged item, followed closely by televisions. The average cost of the damage caused by an exercise accident in the home is £6.55 per household.

Based on the Government's estimate of the UK's female population, this works out at £20,155,080 in total each year.

The survey found that the firm favourite for exercising at home is still the traditional work-out video or DVD. Six out of ten of women own one and half prefer a celebrity instructor.

Although the main incentive for exercising at home was convenience (33 per cent), the in-house workout appealed to nearly a fifth of women simply because it saved money on gym membership.

Jacky Brown, of Sheilas' Wheels, said: 'As summer holidays fast approach, the pressure is on for women to have a bikini-fit body.

'But our research shows many are shying away from gyms and are increasingly keen to exercise at home, to save time and - in the current economic climate - to save money.

'Although indoor fitness can be a great way to build some regular activity into your daily routine, exercise a little restraint and prepare your at-home keep-fit area thoroughly beforehand.'

Exercise guru Diana Moran - the Green Goddess - said it was a good idea to adopt a safer regime such as a combination of sit-ups and light weights.

She added: 'It is really important people are adapting their workouts to the limited space they have.'