Mr Incredible, star of Christmas blockbuster The Incredibles, knows only too well how commuting to work can affect stress levels. After one particularly frustrating journey home from his day job as an insurance claims clerk, he takes violent revenge on his car.

Research now suggests Mr Incredible may not be over-reacting. According to a study by technology company Hewlett-Packard, commuters on roads and railways in the UK suffer greater anxiety than fighter pilots or riot police.

Peak-hour travellers can experience heart rates as high as 145 beats per minute, compared with an average ‘at rest’ rate of 65. They also undergo a surge in the stress hormone cortisol, and tend to ‘shut down’ to the outside world.

So the next time you’re stuck on the 17:41 to Ramsgate, remember that even superheroes get stressed.