Stand by for a new skirmish in the battle of the sexes. Men, it has been claimed, have half an hour's more leisure time a day than women do.

Chaps apparently enjoy an extra 32 minutes in which they can watch television, mix with friends, play sport or pursue hobbies, according to international research.

But any hard-pressed housewives of Britain now thinking of 'useful' odd jobs men could do to fill that extra half hour should beware.

Because, surprisingly, the research does not count taking a bath, doing your hair, having a lie-in, going shopping or taking a long lunch as leisure.

And once the extra time women spend shopping and in the bathroom is added to the leisure hours count, British men have only ten minutes' more spare time a day than women.

The figures come from an international analysis of how we use our leisure time by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the club of the world's richest nations.

Its report divides time into work, unpaid work, personal care and leisure.

Work includes paid work or study, while unpaid work includes household chores, cooking, looking after children or caring for adults, and shopping.

Leisure includes watching TV, doing hobbies, seeing friends, going to events and taking part in sport.

Personal care includes sleeping, eating and drinking, personal hygiene, hairdressing and fitness and medical care.

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