More than two thirds of Yorkshire workers openly admit to being less productive during the entire month of December due to festive entertaining and stress over Christmas preparations.

These are the findings of research carried out by catering company Avenance, which said the regional slowdown cost the UK economy as much as £8 million a year.

The survey revealed that from December 18 nearly half of Yorkshire's workforce hit "festive fizzle out" leaving them more concerned about turkeys and tree-trimming than profits or productivity.

A third told researchers that they did between 10 and 20 per cent less work. Half admitted that a combination of exhaustion, lack of motivation and hangovers meant their capacity for work diminished by 30 per cent.

Nine out of ten employees expected to attend at least four Christmas lunches, which at 2,000 calories per meal represented 80 per cent of a full day's calorific intake for men and the full recommended allowance for women. More than three out of ten said they would drink at least one bottle of wine.

The survey also found that women were twice as likely to be suffering from hangovers in the run up to Christmas than men.

And Yuletide indulgence meant than on average one in ten employees would be ill over the Christmas break.

Avenance chief executive Michael Audis said: "Festive celebrations are an integral part of working life in December but businesses in Yorkshire can do more to support their employees through what is a busy and stressful pe riod of time on both a personal and professional level.

"This support is also critical to ensure that employees manage to stay well over the festive period and enjoy the holiday with their friends and family, as well as come back to work feeling recharged and refreshed. These results show the role of food and drink in the workplace is now more than ever becoming crucial for the health and well being of employees and their productivity levels."

The firm suggested that employers help maintain productivity by having fresh fruit in the workplace, a move suggested by more than half of those questioned.