Employees in the UK are being worn down as Britain becomes the workhorse of Europe, according to a survey by Holiday Inn.

The research found that around 7% of workers are using up just half their holiday entitlement, while around 1% clock up 70 hours or more a week.

It found that 10% have gone close to a year without a break, with 20% not using up all their holiday time.

The research found that more than two in five staff complain of demotivation, 40% are bad tempered, 29% are depressed and 22% suffer from insomnia.

Holiday Inn's parent company InterContinental's Alexi Hakim says: "The findings come as we face the final bank holiday of the year and reveal a workforce at risk of burn-out. As a nation we need to face the fact - all work and no play leaves us stressed out, exhausted and unproductive.

"Workers need to take more regular breaks and pace themselves to avoid the impact of 'holirexia'."