Breadwinning wives are on the increase as one in four women now earns more than their husband or partner.

A report on Personnel Today states 2.7 million women earn more than their other half - a fivefold increase on the previous generation.

Of all the couples in Britain where one half earns more than the other, it was the woman in 25 percent of cases during 2006/07.

That figure is up from five percent back in 1968/69 when just half a million women brought home more money than their husbands.

Among all UK couples, a woman earns the same as or more than her partner in 44 percent of cases - compared with 18% in 1968.