British entrepreneurs are working up to 50 hours a week, according to a new survey.

The Bank of Scotland's research also highlighted that many business owners take less holidays than the UK statutory minimum, with seven out of ten respondents saying they take less than 20 days off annually.

Some 26per cent admitted to taking less than ten days and almost a quarter will not even take a week's holiday this year.

Even successful business bosses do not have more time for themselves, with managers of firm which are showing ten per cent or more growth each year working 52.3 hours each week.

The survey also showed that 71 per cent of businessmen and women claim to be stressed, up from 54 per cent in 2007.

Commenting on these findings, Peter Wood, of Bank of Scotland Business Banking, attributed long working hours, in part, to having to spend time dealing with administration and regulation.

Meanwhile, research by DirectHolidayBookings recently highlighted that almost half of employees consider hading in their notice after returning from holiday, with 46 per cent admitting to thinking about finding a different job.

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