Half of working mums would leave their jobs tomorrow if they could because of the "devastating" impact work was having on their lives.

A poll of 1,000 women found that well over half said working full time had damaged their family life, sometimes causing their children to be unhappy.

More than one in ten said their marriage had broken up because of work and half said their sex life had suffered.

One in four were delaying starting a family in the hope that their work/life balance would improve if they climbed the career ladder.

Lindsay Nicholson, editor of Good Housekeeping magazine, which conducted the research, said: "Our survey paints a devastating picture of a woman so drained of her resources that all her vital relationships are in danger."

Virtually all those questioned said having children affected a woman's career prospects.

Friday September 5, 2003