Dinner time in the average home has slipped to just before 8pm because of longer working hours and changing lifestyles.

A survey has revealed that the average family sits down for their evening meal at 7.47pm.

This is two hours later than ten years ago, when families gathered around the dinner table as early as 5.30pm.

The poll of 1,500 people found that nearly 58 per cent of adults blame today's increasingly busy lifestyles for the later eating times.

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More than a quarter said the main factor was the increase in working mothers, while another quarter said it was because of longer working hours.

The survey, for Jacob's Creek wines, appeared to reconfirm the theory that the traditional family meal, with parents and children around the same table to eat and chat, is disappearing.

Only 36 per cent said they ate at a table, with a mere 21 per cent saying they used meal times as an opportunity to chat to their family.

Twenty-nine per cent admitted to eating their meal on a tray in front of the television.

One in five said they watched the night's soaps while eating, while 8 per cent said they logged on to their computer at the same time.

The poll also found that by the time the average person has finished cooking, eating and clearing up and is ready to enjoy the evening, it is 9.38pm.

A spokesman for the winemaker, Bernard Hickin, said: "Longer hours, flexi-time and overtime all impact on what time we finally get to relax."

The survey found that the top five ways to end the day were "slobbing out and watching TV", surfing the internet, changing into comfy night clothes, having a glass of wine and listening to music.