Despite the stresses and strains of modern day life, more parents are taking the time to sit down and read their children a bedtime story.

A survey of more than 1,000 members of the Netmums website found that 70 per cent of parents read to their little ones more than five nights a week and half read a bedtime story to their children every night.

It is a figure that is on the rise, as only 37 per cent of today's parents were read to at least five nights a week as a child and 29 per cent admit they were never read to at bedtime at all.

But the classic bedtime story has been given a 21st Century makeover by mums and dads, with 11 per cent shortening the tales they read, 12 per cent basing the stories on their own lives and two per cent even adding a celebrity element to the books they read their children.

Netmums founder Siobhan Freegard said: 'Parents seem to be busier than ever before but still want to have this special time with their little ones before they drift off. Bedtime stories have always been fables for their time and modern times are no different - it's just that the characters have been updated.'

Do you read to your child at bedtime? Do you think it helps you bond with them? Or do you read to them for educational purposes?

Leave your comments below and take part in our poll to find out the best-loved children's books from ten family favourites.

See tomorrow's EDP for more.