Union leaders have stepped up their call for an autumn bank holiday.

The Trades Union Congress said on Thursday that an extra day's holiday should be introduced to celebrate the "great British tradition of volunteering".

Pointing out that it was 30 years since the Callaghan government introduced the May Day bank holiday, the TUC said the move would help reward employees for helping to build economic success.

Britain has eight bank holidays a year - the second lowest in Europe - the union organisation said.

It added that an extra day off would be a chance to encourage people to engage in volunteering and community activity.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "We've gone 30 years without a new bank holiday and the UK is now languishing behind the rest of Europe. People are crying out for a new bank holiday, a call that politicians should be listening to.

"A new bank holiday would give everyone much-needed time with friends and family. Timing it around late October would also create a welcome pit-stop to break the gruelling four-month stint between the August bank holiday and the Christmas break.

"But a new bank holiday should not just be a day off work, it should be a special day that brings the nation together. What better cause for us all to celebrate than our great British tradition of volunteering."