European parliamentarians have defied a massive lobbying campaign by the British government to protect the opt-out from the Working Time Directive.

A parliamentary committee - including renegade Labour MEPs rebelling against their government's position - has voted to back amendments calling for maximum average 48 hour week to be enforced in the UK.

Business leaders fear the committee's backing will make it more likely the full parliament will vote the same way.

But a deal will still need to be done between member state governments before the law is changed.