Monday January 25th, 2010: ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ...

International hotel chain Holiday Inn is offering a trial human bed-warming service at three hotels in Britain this month.

If requested, a willing staff-member at two of the chain's London hotels and one in the northern English city of Manchester will dress in an all-in-one fleece sleeper suit before slipping between the sheets.

"The new Holiday Inn bedwarmers service is a bit like having a giant hot water bottle in your bed," Holiday Inn spokeswoman Jane Bednall said.

The bed-warmer is equipped with a thermometer to measure the bed's required temperature of 20 C.

Holiday Inn said the warmer would be fully dressed and leave the bed before the guest occupied it. They could not confirm if the warmer would shower first, but said hair would be covered.

Florence Eavis, Holiday Inn spokeswoman told Reuters the "innovative" bed-warming method was a response to Britain's recent cold weather and marked the launch of 3,200 new Holiday Inns worldwide.

She could not explain why the beds were not being warmed by hot water bottles or electric-blankets, but admitted the human method was quirky.

The hotel chain is promoting the service with the help of sleep expert Chris Idzikowski, director of the Edinburgh Sleep Centre, who said the idea could help people sleep.

"A warm bed -- approximately 20 C to 24 C -- is a good way to start this process, whereas a cold bed would inhibit sleep," said Idzikowski.