A local shop report by the Association of Convenience Stores has revealed that small shopkeepers are among the hardest working professionals in Britain, with 60% working more than 50 hours in an average week.
The report also showed that just 7% work less than 30 hours a week. On top of this, 51% take less than 10 days off a year, while one in five reported taking no holiday at all. According to the ACS, retailers whose shops come under agriculture, forestry and fishing work the most hours on average per week (45) while accommodation and food services worked the least (28).

ACS chief executive James Lowman said: "The stores we're talking about here are our members' livelihoods, so it's not surprising that they work long hours to be successful. Some of our members are in store at four or five in the morning to receive the day's newspapers and are still there late at night closing up every day of the week.

"You can add to these figures the many hours spent outside the store but working in the community on local events and initiatives. We know that 89% of local shops play an active role in the community, on top of spending every day engaging with customers behind the counter."

The association pointed out that the hours worked by self-employed retailers are "far greater than the legal maximum working week and the minimum holidays required under the Working Time Directive."

Under EU rules adopted by the Blair government, workers cannot be forced to work more than 48 hours per week, and must be allowed to take 5.6 weeks holiday - the equivalent of 28 days for full time staff.