British workers have less paid holiday than employees in any other country in the European Union, according to a survey published yesterday.

Workers in the UK are entitled to a minimum of 28 days off, including statutory annual leave and public holidays, putting them at the bottom of an EU league table.

The average leave and holiday entitlement across all EU states was 34 days, and Finland leads the way with 39 days.

The study also revealed that the UK had the fewest public holidays within the EU, with only eight a year.