People left stunned after discovering the kinky reason why people have wicker hearts hanging outside their homes

A not-so family friendly investigation carried out by social media users into the alleged 'secret meaning' of having wicker hearts placed around your home has seen some rib-tickling discoveries being made.

Apparently a staple homeware decoration for the 60-70-year-old age-range - and most commonly spotted on the shelves of Home Bargains, B&M and Homebase - it turns out these wooden adornments can give off a very specific message.

The hearsay first came about after one deliver-person admitted they'd recently noticed a brand new home decor trend when making drop-offs at customers' houses.

"Over the course of my approx. three mile walk, I swear I must have seen tens and tens of houses with hearts hanging up in windows, on doors and on gates," they wrote on the advice forum Mumsnet.

The homeware trend could be sending a certain message. (D A Bones/Getty Images)

"All made out of painted punched metal or wicker. They all seemed to be huge, maybe 30cm in diameter.

"Some of them were quite nice I suppose, but I couldn't help but wonder when I missed that particular memo."

They continued to ask: "Has anyone else noticed this phenomenon, or is it just my very middle class suburb of a fairly dull town?"

Within a matter of hours, hundreds of responses had began pouring in, with the majority claiming that the wicker hearts were a tell-tale sign that they were indicator that the residents of that property were in fact, swingers.

"It's what swingers use instead of pampas grass nowadays. You obviously live in a very friendly area," one reader wrote.

Another added: "Holy s**t. My next door neighbours are swingers. - runs to hide wicker heart in dining room."

Getty/Silvia Milanova

"Oh dear. I've got a heart shaped blackboard thingy in my kitchen. I write messages to my cleaner on it. I do hope she doesn't think DH and I are swingers. We live in a small village and rumors do spread," a third teased.

And it looks as though the conversation has moved over to X - formerly known as Twitter - this weekend.

"Is it true that a wicker heart on a door or in a window means that swingers live there? Someone told me they're the new pampas grass," one social media user questioned.

Many responders were startled by the accusation, however, with some admitting that they've got the same wicker hearts as decoration on their doors, but had no idea that they implied something rather x-rated about the residents.

"I do hope not, we have one in the sitting room window...." one tweeted.

Another laughed: "ha, so many of my immediate neighbours have those in their windows. At least 15 houses down my road alone. Who knew?"

A third added: "I don't know but I'll let you know the results of my experiment, the old lady next door has one... Won't be a min!"