People in Bradford cannot afford another tax rise, Bradford and Bingley has warned.

A survey, by The MarketPlace at Bradford & Bingley, has found British families have the largest tax bill in Europe

The firm says a tax rise in the Budget would leave people even more out of pocket than their Continental counterparts, with less disposable income at a time when the Government is urging the population to save more for retirement.

Ian Darby, from The MarketPlace, said: "We commissioned the study to take an in-depth look at the UK's earning and spending power compared to France, Germany, Italy and Spain.

"We found that, rather than being rewarded for longer working hours and fewer days holiday, everyday items cost us far more than our European counterparts - and we suffer a higher tax burden."

British households pay most in income and wealth taxes - an average of £4,765 a year, which is equivalent to 13 per cent of a household's spending.

French households have the second highest tax bill at £4,363, which accounts for 15 per cent of their total resources. Italians lose 12 per cent to the taxman, Germans 10 per cent, while the Spanish lose seven per cent.

The average UK household has to work from January 1 to April 15 to pay their gross income tax bill.

In France, households have fulfilled their tax obligation almost four weeks earlier by March 22.

Mr Darby added: "A tax rise in the forthcoming Budget, which the Government has hinted at, would further entrench Britain as a top tax-payer."

Despite mediocre pay, the survey also found British families work harder than those on the Continent.

The average British employee works 2,087 hours a year - which works out as 8.7 hours a day, a whole hour more than the Italians.

The British also have fewer holidays.

French families enjoy 47 public and annual holidays a year, while the British have on average just 28.

Mr Darby said: "While Britain is the hardest working nation, we're the underdogs in terms of getting value-for-money. With middle-of-the-road salaries, we suffer the double whammy of steep taxes and high prices.

"We may have higher disposable incomes, but our money doesn't go nearly as far as it does on the Continent.

"We'd like the Government to recognise this and spare British families a further drop in the standard of living and stop the gulf between Britain and its European neighbours getting bigger. This is crucial if British households are to be encouraged to make financial provision for our futures."