British workers are losing out on nearly £5,000 every year, according to a TUC survey.

The recent survey shows that UK employees work on average about seven hours and six minutes of unpaid overtime a week.

This adds up to £4,800 in lost wages over the course of the year, or about £90 a week.

If staff had done all their unpaid overtime at the beginning of the year, they would have worked for free until February 23, the TUC said.

Across the UK, employees did £23bn worth of unpaid overtime last year, the survey revealed.

Brendan Barber, TUC: "We work the longest hours in Europe, and too many workplaces are gripped by a long hours culture."

The TUC has declared February 23 as 'Work Your Proper Hours Day' and is calling on employees to use it to remind bosses of their extra unpaid work by taking a proper lunch break and going home on time.

Bosses are also being urged to take the opportunity to thank their staff and even buy them lunch or an after-work coffee or cocktail.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: "We work the longest hours in Europe, and too many workplaces are gripped by a long hours culture.

"There are some small signs that we are getting a bit better, but there is still a long way to go.

"We do not want to turn Britain into a nation of clock watchers, and few mind putting in extra effort from time to time when it is needed, but it is too easy for extra time to get taken for granted and then expected every week."

The survey found that employees in north-east England did the most unpaid overtime in 2006, an average of seven hours and 42 minutes a week.

Scottish workers did the least amount of overtime last year - six hours and 30 minutes a week.