French are the world champs of annual holidays

London, April 18 : A new poll has shown that the French are the world champions, when it comes to taking annual holidays.

The survey conducted by Harris Interactive, the American polling institute, revealed that the average working Frenchman spends 37 days vacationing, with Italy in second place on 33 days.

Next comes Britain, with 26 days holiday per year - a rise of two days in two years, reports the Telegraph.

America comes last with just two weeks off, reports the Telegraph.

The survey also showed that not only are the French given a record number of holidays, they leave behind most other countries in making sure they take them all.

The poll revealed that 80 per cent of the French are not prepared to work more.

According to Robert Rochefort, the director of Credoc, the living conditions watchdog, the chief reason for this record figure has been the introduction of the 35-hour week, which French president Nicolas Sarkozy is trying to reduce.

ANI