A north-south divide is emerging among businesswomen.

Those in the south are working longer and harder than their northern counterparts, according to a survey of women running businesses.

The research by Business Direct, the Co-operative Bank's 24-hour telephone business banking service for small to medium-sized businesses, reveals northern business bosses work almost ten per cent fewer weekends and holidays than their southern sisters.

In addition, more than a third of southern business bosses regularly bust the 48-hour week, five per cent more than their northern counterparts.

And when it comes to juggling business and babies, the long hours are taking their toll on busy southern business bosses - 66 per cent described combining a business and family as "difficult'' in comparison to 43 per cent of northerners.

With their longer working hours, southern businesswomen are more eager for a break. When asked if they'd work from home to ease the pressure of juggling business and babies, 57 per cent said they would, compared to only 41 per cent of northern mums.

Business Direct's Women Mean Business survey also showed a contrast between perceptions of relationships at work.

More than half of respondents in the south believed businesswomen tend to have better relationships with their staff than men.

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