A record number of people now work from home on a regular basis, something that is largely due to advances in broadband, according to a market expert.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show there were 4.2 million people employed in this way during the first three months of this year, which equates to 13.9 per cent of the UK's working population. This is the highest number noted since such records began in 1998.

In Wales alone, one in six employees operated from home regularly, with around 187,000 in the country doing so.

Speaking to BBC Wales, Labour Market Analyst Jamie Jenkins suggested improvements in telecommunications - such as widespread broadband rollouts - are to thank for this significant increase in homeworkers over the past few years.

Mr Jenkins commented: "Broadband does make it easier to work from home, especially among the rural areas of Wales."

The ONS figures also showed homeworkers were more likely to be self-employed, which is again something that has been made possible due to advances in telecommunications and improved internet connections.

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