MOST of us are finding it more and more difficult to get away from work even on holiday, a new study has found.

As many as two-thirds of us have had our holiday interrupted by a call from work - and one-third of us actually admit to taking a laptop on holiday.

The survey, carried out for travel firm, AlphaRooms.com, has found that holidaymakers are packing their laptops and mobile phones so they can work while away.

But it doesn't always make for a harmonious holiday "Yes, I have to say, I have taken my laptop away with me and I have used it to do some work on," admits Wayne Harris, 35, managing director of Saratoga, a Poole-based IT solutions company.

"And, no, my wife was not very impressed!"

In his defence Wayne argues that as more and more people come to rely on their PCs for communication, it is inevitable that people will pack their laptops.

"If you think about it, if you have accommodation that offers internet access and you have downloaded Skype you can stay in touch with home for free. We used to send postcards, but now we can send an email home - it's part of everyday life for so many people today."

It is perhaps the downside of the age of instant communication that we are rarely ever truly out of contact.

"Even when on holiday it's all too easy to make a work telephone call, send an email or even take a laptop to the beach," says Gareth Hockey, marketing manager at AlphaRooms.com, which commissioned the poll of 1,000 employees.

But what use is a holiday if you're still working?

"The purpose of a holiday is to remove yourself from the work environment which is often the cause of stress and it defeats the object if you take that work and that stress with you," says Neil Shah of the Stress Management Society.

"I'd agree," adds Wayne Harris.

"I took my laptop with me because we were on holiday in the UK and it's easy to keep up to date with emails.

"It's not ideal, I know, but you can't always avoid it. I work long hours during the week, but usually I'm pretty good and leaving work at work in the evenings and over weekends.

"It is important to have a proper break from work so that you can be refreshed and more effective when you go back."

Laptops are the item most likely to be packed by men going on holiday and never used, according to a survey carried out by YouTravel website.

The travel company found that while 46 per cent of men confessed to taking their laptop on holday and not using it, some 37 per cent of women pack their gym kit and leave it in their suitcases.