More than 4 million people in the UK usually work from home, up 62,000 on this time last year, according to the Trades Union Congress (TUC).

The findings were published on Friday to mark ‘National Working from Home Day’, organised by Work Wise UK.

Analysis of government figures by the TUC shows an increase of 500,000 homeworkers since 2007, with one-in-six people in the South West doing so – making it the UK's homeworking capital.

But the biggest rise in people working at home was in the South East, with an increase of 132,000 since 2007.

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Cheaper and quicker internet access has played a big factor in the growth of home-working in recent years.

“Modern home-working is good for the economy as it increases productivity, helps businesses hold on to talented staff, and allows people with caring responsibilities or a disability to access the labour market.”