Work-life treadmill trips heels of one in four mums

ONLY one-in-four women, including the self-employed, return to full-time work after the birth of their first child.

Another quarter switched from full-time to part-time work and of those already in part-time work, eight out of 10 felt the need to cut their hours.

A staggering two thirds of women are quitting full-time work once they start a family, influenced by rocketing childcare costs and inflexible working arrangements.