Loving a chat on the blower

Britons spend more time on the phone than their European neighbours.

They are also more likely to watch TV at the same time and to hang up in mid-conversation, says a new report.

Fifty-two per cent of British phone users will hang up in the middle of a call, marginally ruder than the Germans with 50 per cent.

We are also most likely, along with Russians and Italians, to hit someone with the phone in mid-conversation, although only three per cent admit to this.

A survey of 13 countries by phone company Siemens CP found 18 per cent of Britons spent more than eight hours a week on home phones, five per cent more than the second-placed Italians.

Simon Robinson of Siemens said: "The cause of all this bad behaviour could be attributed to Brits working the longest hours in Europe - the stress of modern lifestyles leaving us short of patience when we catch up with friends and family on the phone at the end of a long day."

Interestingly, the Swedes are the most likely to belch while on the phone - and also the most disposed to answer a call during sex.