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Researchers investigating babies' perceptions of the world are looking for families to help with a new study.

So far, the Surrey Baby Lab, based at the University of Surrey, has focused on how babies see colours and how their perception differs to adults.

Now Dr Anna Franklin, who set up the lab 10 years ago, wants to find out whether all youngsters share preferences for different colours.

She said families who want to be involved should contact the university.

"We all have personal preferences for different colours, but research has shown that there are some colours, like blues, that are commonly liked and that there are other colours, such as dark yellow, that are commonly disliked," she said.

"These patterns of preference appear to be common to many different cultures.

"We would like to find out whether young babies are also drawn to the same colour.

"This will tell us something about how babies see colour, and will also help us understand the origins of colour preference."

Research already carried out at the lab has aimed to piece together an idea of what and how the babies see.

Scientists use a special camera to identify exactly where babies are looking when they are shown images on a computer monitor.

So far, hundreds of local babies have taken part.