MOST of us whinge that we're overworked - but Southend women might actually have a rightful claim to the complaint.

Government statistics show women from the seaside town are the hardest working in the east of England, putting in almost an hour per week above the regional average.

Full-time working women from Southend clock up an average 38.6 hours every week, compared to a regional average of 37.8. Men from the town are still beating them in terms of time put in, with a weekly average of 40.5 hours, compared to 40.9 hours regionally.

Published Tuesday, January 17, 2006