Selby is Britain's hardest working town, a new survey has revealed.

The National Office of Statistics (ONS) says that workers in Selby put in 44.9 hours a week - four hours more than the national average.

A spokesman for ONS was unable to offer any reason as to why Selby, with a population of 12,000, had such a long working week.

The survey also revealed that even though they work harder than anyone else in the UK, Selby workers are unlikely to be well rewarded for their toil.

The average weekly wage in Selby is £403, compared to the national average of £465.

The ONS spokesman said that it was possible for Selby residents to improve their lot by commuting to York, where the average salary is £432.

Selby MP John Grogan said today: "Selby has long benefited from a strong Yorkshire work ethic, with local people being prepared to work long hours in both industry and agriculture.

"The challenge today is to reap the benefits from that heritage, whilst trying to achieve a proper balance between work and family life."

Selby town councillor Steve Shaw-Wright, who works in Leeds, said that most people in Selby had no choice but to work long hours to make up for low wages.

He said he used to work at one of the Selby pits, working 12-hour day shifts and 12-hour nights, six days a week.

He said: "People who work for other employers in town sometimes work 12-hour shifts. A member of my family works regular Saturdays in a factory to make his wages up because on a flat wage he's struggling to make ends meet.

"We are to some extent still living in Victorian times because a lot of employment is still piece work, and if there's no work you don't get paid."

Coun Shaw-Wright said that Britain's 'hardest-working town' tag was a double-edge sword.

He said it showed to potential investors that there was a workforce in Selby that was willing to work, but it also reflected badly on some employers who were paying low wages.

He said it could also lead to stress and family breakdowns.

Updated: 15:54 Friday, November 01, 2002