It's a research which most women would agree to -- mothers work 40 per cent harder than fathers when it comes to household chores and childcare.

Researchers in Britain have carried out the study and found that women spend an average of 74 hours a week on house -hold chores and childcare, tasks that it would cost 32,812 pounds to pay someone else to do.

On the contrary, men spend only 53 hours a week on domestic tasks, although it would still cost 23,296 pounds to pay someone to do everything that fathers do for free, found the study, commissioned by insurer Legal and General.

And, within these totals, women spend 33 hours a week looking after children, 50 per cent more than the 21.5 hours men spend with their offspring each week.

Full-time mothers put in the most work around the house, carrying out an average of 82 hours worth of jobs each week, while women who work full-time fit in 55 hours worth of chores and childcare on a weekly basis.

The insurer said the value of work carried out by mothers in a year had increased by more than 8,000 pounds since it last conducted the research in 2005, 'The Daily Telegraph' reported.

Alan Ferguson of Legal & General said: "Mums are a rock for many families, making sure the home runs smoothly, that the children are looked after and often holding down a job of their own."

But despite the high value of the tasks carried out by mothers, only 53 per cent have life insurance and just 26 per cent have critical illness cover, the study found.