Grandparents are increasingly bearing the burden of having to prop up Britain’s workers, it was claimed today.

With the economy in crisis, stretched parents are having to rely on their own parents to look after their children as they are forced to leave the home for work and can not afford childcare.

A survey by Interflora revealed a staggering 60 per cent of grandparents are providing regular chlldcare while their own children are at work.

Indeed, 71 per cent said it was the childcare provided by grandparents that meant parents could actually go out to work.

With more than 90% of grandparents playing this caring role without payment it’s easy to see the vital service the older generation is providing for Britain’s faltering economy.

William Higham, of consumer trends consultancy Next Big Thing, says: “In difficult economic times families often come together. We’re seeing the beginnings of a Happy Families trend, where the ‘we’re all in this together’ mantra is becoming very real.”

The rising cost of childcare is a real problem for parents, many of whom are finding it unaffordable to work.

In fact, 67 per cent of parents said that could not afford to go out to work were it not for the help of their parents.

A recent study by Save the Children and the Daycare Trust revealed that for 41 per cent of parents the costs of childcare are on a pay with mortgage or rent payments.