IT and internet workers in the UK are more likely to be late for work than other employees, a new report suggests.

Research carried out by Travelodge found that 49 per cent of UK workers are regularly late and that people working in the IT industry are particularly tardy.

On average, people are five minutes late for work, twice a month. However, IT workers are typically late three times a month, meaning that these workers miss nearly six years of work over their career.

The most common reason for lateness was simply oversleeping, but other factors included missed transport and overused snooze functions.

"Creative excuses such as watching UFO's, wrestling with wildlife or getting lost on the way to work cannot mask the real reason for our nation's tardiness," explained Wayne Munnelly, the director of sleep for Travelodge.

"The tendency to oversleep clearly demonstrates that this country is in the grip of a sleep-deprivation epidemic.

Corinne Sweet, a holistic lifecoach and psychologist added: "Long working hours coupled with the stresses and strains of the daily grind mean we are no longer able to switch off after hours and indulge in worry-free sleep."