Children who stick to regular bedtime routines may perform better in the classroom as a result.

This is the suggestion of new research published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, which found a young person's brain power can benefit from going to sleep at the same time every night.

It was shown that keeping to a bedtime routine can result in a child performing better in both reading and maths, while it also benefits their spatial awareness.

More than 1,000 young people were tested as part of the investigation - and it was demonstrated that three-year-olds who did not have a regular bedtime pattern did not perform as well as those who were put to bed at the same time each night.

This connection was also evident in seven-year-old girls, but not boys, while five-year-olds did not appear to be affected.

The authors noted: "Sleep has a crucial and complex role in the maintenance of health and optimal function."

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