Refusal by children to pull their weight with the household chores is putting an end to happy families, according to a survey released this week.

Research carried out for BT Call Sign claims that two thirds of parents find their offspring frustrating, irritating and annoying because of their reluctance to help around the home.

Almost a quarter admitted being treated as a taxi service, ferrying their children to and from parties and nights out, was standing in the way of domestic bliss.

And the constant need of nagging before they did their homework, cleaned their bedrooms or answered phone calls left adults fuming at their children's seemingly carefree and selfish behaviour.

The research, commissioned to coincide with a new telephone service giving a different ring indicating who the call is from, questioned more than 1,000 adults nationwide.

And it found that it wasn't just youngsters that caused upset with co-inhabitants of the home.

Friends sharing flats complained of answering phones for absent flatmates, being woken up when they arrived home late from a night out or refusing to do other people's washing up.

And children turned the tables on their parents by claiming they became infuriated by constant questioning about where they've been and "embarrassing" music tastes.

The accuracy of the report's claims were supported by shoppers in York.

Philippa Burns, from Melbourne, near Pocklington, said her three daughters aged five, eight and 15, were no admirers of housework.

And she cited the eight-year-old as being the worst.

She said: "They certainly don't like tidying their rooms, and the eight-year-old just refuses to help, although she's in the Brownies and they are supposed to be helpful.

"But I remember being exactly the same myself so I can't really criticise it. Kids are expected to think more about playing than keeping the house clean."

Lynda Wishart, visiting York from Kingussie, Scotland, has three children aged 16, 21 and 22. Two still live at home.

She said: "They all make a mess, but my husband is exactly the same so I have got used to it.

"It will change when they come to own their own homes and there's nobody there to run around after them. They won't have any choice then."

Susan Russell, from Bolton Percy, who has two teenage children, said: "I accept that they don't like to do the housework, but it can certainly be annoying.

"They don't tidy anything away after themselves, and that probably won't change until after they have left home. I think they've got used to me running around after them."

Peter and Joyce Jackson, visiting York from Sheffield, have grown-up children and are now grandparents.

They said it would be more frustrating to have children now than it was 40 years ago.

"Our lads did things when they were told to do them," said Mr Jackson.

"Kids now seem to get everything they want and they don't seem to know the value of things or how to respect them.

"In past generations people didn't have that, and they appreciated what they did have. I think they were more willing to pull their weight with the housework then because they knew how to look after things better."

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