WORKING people in the South West have been revealed to ‘hibernate’ in the office.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is urging people to snap out of their winter blues as new figures show that two thirds (67%) are holed up indoors, spending a maximum of two hours outdoors in an average working day.

And over a quarter of people (27%) don’t leave the office for at least four days a week.

With spring looming, the heart research charity has released the statistics to encourage people to get outdoors by signing up to its iconic London to Brighton bike ride on Sunday, June 17.

At the moment, half of South West residents own up to having stayed in their pyjamas all day and 48 per cent change from work attire to pyjamas the moment they walk through the door. Two fifths (40%) have also confessed to flaking on friends and family and cancelling plans to relax at home. Around a third (31%) have admitted to getting a takeaway because it was too cold to go to the shops and a quarter (24%) have failed to go to the gym, on a run or cycle ride because it’s too cold.

But people in the region are concerned about how much time they are spending inside at work and home, with three fifths (60%) of residents worried that they are not getting enough fresh air and sunlight in the average working week.

Elizabeth Tack, event lead for the BHF’s London to Brighton Bike Ride, said: “We are all guilty of going into hibernation mode during the winter months, but now as the days are getting longer and the mercury levels rise, this is the perfect time to saddle up and embrace the outdoors.

“Our London to Brighton Bike Ride is a great goal to work towards as an individual or team and you can fit your training around your schedule. Whether you choose to commute into work by bike or pedal miles through the city, coast or countryside at the weekend, step away from your four walls and explore the great outdoors.

“With 650,000 people living with heart and circulatory disease in South West, every pound you raise will help make a difference to millions.”

The BHF’s London to Brighton Bike Ride has taken place for over 40 years and is Europe’s oldest charity cycling event. This year’s event is sponsored by Jaffa Fruit.

To sign up for this year’s London to Brighton Bike Ride, visit bhf.org.uk/l2bbr