Public sector workers are costing the country billions by taking too many days off sick, according to the country’s main business lobby.

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) said that public sector workers took an average of 9.1 days of sick leave per year, compared to 6.4 days in the private sector, at an estimated cost of £4.1 billion pounds to the economy.

CBI head Sir Digby Jones said: “These findings will make worrying reading for the newly elected government.

“If ministers fail to deal with this problem, poorer front-line services or higher taxes will be the result.”