WAGES are still worth a third less in some parts of the country than a decade ago, a report reveals today.

Research by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) found that the average worker has lost £11,800 in real earnings since 2008.

Britain has suffered the “worst real wage slump" among leading economies, the organisation said.

Surrey, Selby in North Yorkshire, Anglesey in North Wales and the London boroughs of Redbridge, Epsom and Waverley are among the areas which have seen the biggest losses, the study shows.

Workers have suffered real wage losses from just under £5,000 in the North East to more than £20,000 in London.

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said a million families will be worse off this Christmas compared to 10 years ago, as the government has “failed to tackle” Britain’s cost of living crisis.  

“While pay packets have recovered in most leading economies, wage growth in the UK is stuck in the slow lane,” she said.

“Ministers need to wake up and get wages rising faster. This means cranking up the pressure on businesses to pay staff more, especially at a time when many companies are sitting on large profits.”

A government spokesman argued that Britain's job market has never been stronger, employment is at a record high and wages are now rising at their fastest.

He said: “We have cut income tax for 31 million people and through the national living wage we have helped to deliver the fastest wage growth in 20 years for over two million of the lowest-paid workers.”