BLACKBURN is the top town in the UK for people working outside the traditional nine to five.

According to banking company First Direct, 57 per cent of the borough's working population work different shifts compared to 43 per cent who work nine to five.

Second on the list was Bracknell Forest with 40 per cent working in what the bank has termed the five to nine economy.

Nationally research shows that this five-to-nine economy is worth £180 billion to the UK economy The only other north west town in the top ten was Liverpool, which was placed ranked fifth with just over 37 per cent of employees working outside traditional hours.