They're all the rage, but are rage rooms really good for us?

If you find it hard to count to 10 when anger bubbles up, a new trend offers a more hands-on approach.

- Nicola Davis

Rage rooms are cropping up across Britain, allowing punters to smash seven bells out of old TVs, plates and furniture.

Such pay-to-destroy ventures are thought to have originated in Japan in 2008, but have since gone global. In Britain, venues can be found in locations from Birmingham to Brighton, with many promoting destruction as a stress-relieving experience.

According to Smash It Rage Rooms in southeast London, where a 30-minute solo session costs £50, “each smash is a cathartic release, a burst of pure, primal joy”.

“We are at capacity - we were looking for another venue as we can’t keep up with demand,” said Amelia Smewing, who set up the business with her husband after exploring ways to help their son cope with PTSD.