Union leaders are calling on the government to create four new public holidays as workers enjoy the last national break before Christmas.

The TUC said the eight public holidays a year that workers in England and Wales are entitled to is much less than other countries.

Workers in Scotland have 11 public holidays this year, followed by Northern Ireland with 10. However, all EU countries have more public holidays than the UK, according to the union organisation.

Romania, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Finland and Cyprus top the EU table with 15 days each, while there are 17 in Japan, and 11 in China and New Zealand, according to the TUC.

General secretary Frances O’Grady said: “The August bank holiday will be a welcome break for everyone working hard to get us through the pandemic, especially those on the frontline.

“But, after August, there’s no national holiday until Christmas, and that’s because the number of holidays we get is so stingy compared to other nations.

“A few more public holidays would be a great way to thank working Britain for getting us through these tough times, and it would level us up with other workers around the world.

“It’s time for a national conversation – when should our new holidays be? What might they celebrate? An autumn holiday to break the long stretch to Christmas would be a good start.”