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Over 17 million people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are likely to find themselves performing work-related tasks over the bank holiday, says new research.

According to the first direct bank, many of us will spend the holiday break working, despite not being among the 7.6 million people who will be paid to work in public services, pubs, shops and call centres over the long weekend.

A poll of over 1,000 adults from around the UK found that 65 per cent of people will be working over the bank holiday, including in Scotland where the break is not being celebrated.

But excluding those who live in Scotland, 62 per cent of respondents said they would be working, with a mammoth 43 per cent intending to undertake unofficial work over the weekend.

Work-related tasks likely to be performed include checking and sending work emails, which 43 pent of "stealth workers" admitted to.

Other tasks include writing work-related proposals or papers, which 37 per cent of respondents said they would do, taking reading associated with their job home (34 per cent) and making work calls (11 per cent).

Those who live in the north west are the most likely to take the bank holiday off completely, with less than half (45 per cent) of people who live there likely to be working over the break.

In contrast, a mammoth 72 per cent of Londoners will be unable to escape the daily grind over the bank holiday.

According to first direct, the results of the survey reinforce evidence that traditional nine-to-five working hours are now a thing of the past in the UK.

"It’s clear that for the country’s working population, having the bank holiday off is not a given," said Jane Hanson, head of human resources for first direct.

"People are now either in a job where they officially work on a bank holiday, feel the need to take the odd bit of work home or keep half an eye on the inbox," she added.