It seems workers across the region have been dreading their return to work so much, they have concocted a host of weird and wonderful excuses.

Business bosses in Greater Manchester have reported received a host of bizarre calls from staff saying they weren't going to make it in after the holiday period.

With yesterday crowned 'blue monday,' absenteeism was expected to be at one of its highest points in the year - despite 2014 only being a few days old.

Experts at advisory firm ELAS, in Eccles, Salford, have had the following excuses reported to them so far:

- A male worker called to say he couldn’t come in because his girlfriend’s sister was having a baby. A follow up call by the employer to verify this revealed that there was no girlfriend and therefore no sister or baby

- A woman called to say she couldn’t come in because she had fought with her boyfriend and hurt her finger

- A worker called to say they couldn’t make it to work that day because their car exhaust has fallen off on the drive way

- One man said he only had one pair of work trousers and that they were wet because his mum has washed them so he couldn’t make it into the office

- Another person said they needed new tyres on their car and it would otherwise be illegal for them to drive to work

- One person said they couldn’t afford to put petrol in their car to get to work

- Another employee who worked as a driver called in and said that he went out the night before and was still over the limit as he had drunk too much alcohol so couldn’t come to work

- One employee took a leave of absence after saying his grandfather had died. The company’s HR manager knew the family and bumped into the grandfather, who was very much alive and well, at the supermarket. The worker was dismissed as a result

A spokesman said: "The New Year and the ensuing months often result in a rise in absences among workers as they struggle to make it into work following the excesses of the festive season.

"These staff shortages can considerably zap workplace energy and productivity levels, a concern given that National Sickie Day, on February 3rd, is fast approaching . If you follow Employment Law Advisory Service’s advice though, you can make it through the New Year unscathed.

"Common causes for absence include the usual bugs and viruses that make their rounds during the colder weather but far more elaborate reasons do crop up, as evidenced in our list of excuses."

So come on, share the excuses you have made or heard.