NEW research from Clydesdale Bank has revealed that Britain's business men and women can't switch off from work during family holidays - with many struggling to find a balance between their work and private life.

When asked about their holiday habits more than two-thirds (69 per cent) of workers in the South West said that they keep in touch with the office throughout their time off via their mobile phone or Blackberry.

The survey, which questioned workers from a range of industries across the UK, also showed that compared to the UK average, surprisingly fewer workers in the South West believe that it is impossible to balance their work commitments with their private life (36 per cent in the South West compared to 43 per cent across the UK).

Looking at the picture across the rest of the UK, those in the North West are most guilty of keeping in touch with work while on holiday - an incredible 86 per cent admitting to this, followed by the North East (77 per cent) and the West Midlands (77 per cent). On the flipside workers in Wales are the least likely to interrupt their holidays, with only 58 per cent being prepared to take phone calls or answer emails while on leave.

It's hardly surprising that those workers most likely to disrupt their holidays find it hard to strike a healthy balance between their work and home life. Workers in the West Midlands find the balancing act the hardest with almost two-thirds (62 per cent) finding it impossible, followed by the North East (59%) and North West (48 per cent). At the other end of the scale, workers in the South East and South West have achieved a much better split (36 per cent each).

"What this research clearly shows is that workers in the South West just don't know when to stop when it comes to work," said regional director of Clydesdale Bank's Financial Solutions Centres in the South West Richard Wallace. "It is acknowledged that the UK has a culture of working longer hours than virtually all of its European counterparts, but nonetheless it's astounding that so many people don't use their holiday time as a means to recharge their batteries."