Labour has announced that all workers will be able to count bank holidays as additional to their annual leave.

In a move that was welcomed by unions, trade secretary Patricia Hewitt said that more than two million workers would benefit from up to eight days of extra paid holiday a year.

The change will be made with legislation early in the next parliament if Labour is re-elected.

"This means that, with Labour, every full-time worker will be entitled to 28 days’ paid holiday - including the time for bank holidays," she said.

Derek Simpson, general secretary of Amicus, said: "The announcement should convince anyone still unsure about how to cast their vote in the coming election that only Labour will deliver a better deal for working people and their families."