WOMEN pay the heaviest price for the clocks going back in winter, with females up to 50 per cent more likely to suffer from the winter blues than men, a new study has revealed.

Women struggle the most with the reduction in daylight, citing a range of problems such as finding it harder to get up in the morning and harder to get motivated

And since the clocks went back, ten per cent more women than men said they were seeking solace in comfort food.

One in five men claim they have not been affected by the reduction in daylight at all, compared with only 15 per cent of women.

The survey also shows how big the overall impact of the winter blues really is.Three quarters of the 2,000 people questioned in the Anglian Home Improvements survey said the reduction in daylight over the winter has a negative impact on their mood, while 66 per cent say it leaves them feeling less motivated.

More than six out of ten people report a negative effect on their overall sense of wellbeing, with almost the same amount saying the reduction in daylight over the winter impacts on their eating habits.

The research also identified some of the things people do to help themselves feel better during the winter, with those who spent time outdoors or sitting by a window saying they felt the effects of the winter blues less starkly.